Managing High Blood Pressure: What You Can Do

Did you know that people who do not have high blood pressure at age 55 face a 90% chance of developing it? That means most of us will be at increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other diseases. High blood pressure can be dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and can damage your body's blood vessels.

Doctors call high blood pressure "hypertension." In hypertension, blood pressure remains above 140/90 over time. If a person's blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89, then they have "prehypertension." This means that they don't have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future, particularly if they don't make healthy lifestyle changes. At a regular office visit, your doctor can check your blood pressure and tell you if you have high blood pressure or if you are at risk for developing it.

If you have high blood pressure, there are many things you can do. You and your doctor can work out the best way to prevent or treat hypertension. As a team, you can decide what your blood pressure goal should be, how long you'll need to reach it, whether you'll need medications, and how to work in lifestyle changes that will help you stay healthy. A LifeSteps Health Coach can also help answer your questions and support you in communicating with your doctor and following your doctor's recommendations. A Health Coach is a specially trained healthcare professional, such as a nurse, respiratory therapist, or dietitian available at no charge to you, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To talk to a Health Coach, call 1-877-LIFE-123 (1-877-543-3123).

To receive support from a LifeSteps health coach on any health matter, call 1-877- LIFE-123 (1-877-543-3123) 24 hours a day, seven days a week.