February is Heart Month: Know Your Numbers

February is heart month, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, along with Million Hearts, a national effort to prevent heart attacks and strokes, want you to know your numbers.

By that, they mean know your blood pressure numbers and if it’s high, make control your goal.

According to the CDC, uncontrolled high blood pressure (HBP) - also known as hypertension - is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke and affects more than 67 million Americans.

People with high blood pressure are four times more likely to die from a stroke and three times more liable to die from heart disease, compared to those with normal blood pressure. Only about half (47%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.

The CDC reports that about one in three American adults have prehypertension, which are blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range.

The problem is that, most often, high blood pressure presents no signs or symptoms, which is why you need to have your blood pressure checked.

Your doctor can screen you for HBP. Many pharmacies also offer screening machines. You can also check your pressure at home using a blood pressure monitor, which you can purchase at drugstores, medical equipment suppliers, or through websites such as Amazon.com.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends an automatic, cuff-style, bicep (upper arm) monitor. AHA does not recommend wrist and finger monitors because they yield fewer reliable readings. A list of recommended monitors is available here.

If your blood pressure is high, the CDC recommends that you take the following steps to bring it under control.

Ask your doctor what your blood pressure should be. Discuss your blood pressure with your physician and, if it’s high, set a goal to lower it. Track your blood pressure over time to monitor progress toward the goal.

Take your blood pressure medicine as directed. If you take blood pressure medication, set a reminder on your phone to ensure you take it at the same time each day.

Quit smoking, or don’t start. While smoking has not been conclusively proven to cause high blood pressure, the AHA says each cigarette you smoke temporarily increases your blood pressure for many minutes after you finish.

Reduce sodium intake. Excess sodium intake can raise blood pressure. You already know that snack foods like chips, crackers, and pretzels contain a lot of salt, but you may be surprised to find that foods such as cereals, cottage cheese, salad dressings, and soups are high in sodium, as well.

Check the labels on foods for their sodium amounts and stick to less than 2,300 mg per day. If you suffer from HBP, reduce that number to 1,500 mg per day. (Check with your doctor to see how much sodium is right for you.)

Make February the month in which you know your blood pressure numbers. If they are high, do everything possible to bring them back in line.