Are you aware Of The Ticking Time Bomb That Is High Blood Pressure?

Vidcast:  https://www.instagram.com/p/DN04xTN2nvK/Blah, blah blah you’re thinking.  Yea, yea, yea Dr. Smith I’ve heard this all before.  PLEASE don’t click off and give me a couple minutes to help you save your own life or the lives of those you love.An astounding 77% of Americans do not know that blood pressures greater than 130/80 are a significant risk for heart attack and stroke as well as dementia, kidney failure, and blindness.  One in 4 still think the numbers are the old cutoffs 140/90.  So discovered University of Pennsylvania public health researchers after they they surveyed 1653 of our friends and neighbors this past April.Among their key findings:-24% don’t know the blood pressure levels that are considered high.  The cutoff is now 130/80, not 140/90.-37% assume incorrectly that high blood pressure always has noticeable symptoms like dizziness and shortness of breath; they don’t know that high blood pressure is a silent illness.-39% think that your blood pressure is fine if you are calm and relaxed. Not so.-35% of survey respondents had diagnosed high blood pressure, while the CDC estimates that 48% of all Americans have hypertension. -88-92% of those with high blood pressure know how to maintain a normal blood pressure: regular exercise, only 26% do; limiting salt intake, only 31% do; maintaining a healthy weight, only 21% do; take prescribed medications regularly, only 51% do; monitor blood pressure daily, only 18% do.The researchers conclude that better public education is the key to improving these statistics.  In that spirit, let’s review the American Heart Association’s current definitions regarding blood pressure levels.  Normal blood pressure is less than 120 or less than 80, elevated blood pressure is less than 120-129/less than 80, high blood pressure-stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89, high blood pressure-stage 2 is 140 or higher or 90 or higher, and a hypertensive crisis is higher than 180 or higher than 120. I urge you to share this information with your friends and family.  Blood pressure monitors are dirt cheap, and every household, EVERY HOUSEHOLD should have one. Does yours?https://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/many-americans-unaware-high-blood-pressure-usually-has-no-noticeable-symptoms/https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2837834#bloodpressure #hypertension #exercise #diet #monitoring