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18 ARCHBOLD
MEDICAL CENTER
Highbloodpressure
Knowyour
risk factors
THERE’S A LOT
you should know
about high blood pressure.
“High blood pressure can affect any-
one,” said internal medicine physician
Rick Fenlon, MD. “High blood pressure
often causes no symptoms. Yet if not
controlled, it can lead to heart attack and
stroke.”
According to Dr. Fenlon, the key thing
to know about high blood pressure is it’s
sometimes preventable—and preven-
tion starts with recognizing risk factors.
Some risk factors for high blood pres-
sure you can’t change, such as:
•
Age.
Blood pressure tends to go up as
you get older.
•
Gender.
Men are more likely than
women to have high blood pressure
before age 45. After age 65, women are
more likely than men to be affected.
•
Family history.
If close family mem-
bers have high blood pressure, you’re
more likely to get it too.
“Even though you can’t do anything
about those risk factors, you can stay
vigilant about keeping your blood pres-
sure in a healthy range,” Dr. Fenlon said.
“Get your pressure checked regularly,
and stay on top of the following risk
factors, which you can control.”
Rick Fenlon, MD
Internal Medicine Physician
McIntosh Clinic
RISK FACTOR
WHY IT’S A RISK
WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
Being overweight
or obese
Excess weight forces your heart to
work harder, and that raises your
blood pressure.
Losing just 10 pounds may lower blood pressure. That’s
possible by cutting calories and getting more exercise.
Eating a less-than-
healthy diet
A diet high in calories, fat and sugar
can add pounds. And too much
sodium (salt) may make your body
retain fluid and can increase blood
pressure.
•
Focus on eating more fruits; vegetables; whole-grain,
high-fiber foods; low-fat dairy products; and fish.
•
Limit salt, fats and added sugars.
•
Ask your doctor about getting more potassium—it may
lessen sodium’s effects on blood pressure.
•
Know the risks of alcohol.
Not exercising
You’re more likely to gain weight if
you’re not active. When you exercise,
your arteries vasodilate, which is good
for your circulatory system.
It is now recommended that people get 30 minutes of
physical activity five days of the week or take 10,000 steps
a day.
Smoking
Smoking damages blood vessels.
Ask your doctor for tips on quitting. It’s doable!
Having too much
stress
Stress may cause you to eat poorly
and engage in unhealthy behaviors,
like smoking or drinking. Stress can
cause vasoconstriction.
Find healthy stress relievers, such as exercising. Yoga and
tai chi are also beneficial.
HEART CARE