(By Grace Ogiehor-Eoma, RNC, MSN, MPH, BC)

It struck when you least expected and when you are not paying attention. When you are having fun, full of life, thinking all is well. After all, you look healthy with no signs of illness/sickness. Unfortunately, by the time you realize what has happened, it is too late, six feet under. You are lucky to be reading this paper. I bet you must have escaped this silent killer with major injuries/damages – stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure. This “Silent Killer” is known as High Blood Pressure and the medical name for it, is Hypertension. It is called the silent killer because many people have high blood pressure for years without knowing that they have it; and there are no symptoms.
I am sure you don’t know either and you look well and don’t feel any thing. My dear reader, the only way you can tell if you have high blood pressure, is to have your blood pressure checked. So, do that today. For time wasted is life wasted. Your health is your wealth and your life. Maintain it! According to American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure killed 44,619 Americans in 2000 and contributed to the death of about 118,000. About 50 million Americans age 6 and older have high blood pressure. Of those people with high blood pressure, 31.6 percent don’t know they have it (AHA).

What is High Blood Pressure?

Your heart pumps blood rich in oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body 24 hours a day. The blood passes through arteries (passageway) to get to those parts of the body. As the heart pushes blood through the arteries, it exerts some pressure/force on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure therefore refers to the force of the blood against arterial walls. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury and recorded as a fraction; for example120/80, 120 is the systolic pressure, 80 is the diastolic pressure. A person whose blood pressure is above normal for a sustained period is in a state of hypertension. According to AHA, high blood pressure is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. Persistent high blood pressure is a major cause of early death and serious disability in millions of people.

Who Can Develop High Blood Pressure?

Regardless of your race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. It can occur in children or adults, but it is more common in people over age 35.  According to AHA, High Blood Pressure is very common. More than 50 million American adults –1 in 4- have high blood pressure. High blood pressure occurs more often among African Americans who may get it earlier in life than whites – one out of every three African Americans have high blood pressure. Are you in that number? Remember, you will not know without having your blood pressure checked. So, make appointment with your health care provider today; the earlier, the better. High blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable. Early detection saves lives.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

Unfortunately, most causes of high blood pressure are unknown. However, it has been documented that several factors do contribute to high blood pressure. Some risk factors you cannot change but changing most controllable risk factors through lifestyle modification will help reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

Uncontrollable risk factors:

• Race: African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than whites, and it tends to occur earlier and more severe.
• Age: Although high blood pressure can occur in children, but it is more common among people over age 35. The older you get, the greater your risk of developing high blood pressure. Please note here that high blood pressure is not part of the normal aging process. It is a serious condition that needs to be treated. Get your blood pressure checked today.
• Heredity: High blood pressure tends to run in some families. You are more likely to develop high blood pressure if your close blood relatives have developed it. So, learn more about your family medical history. Because, high blood pressure is so serious but early detection and treatment are very important.

If you are over 35 years, with a blood relative with high blood pressure, and black, then you have three strikes against you. Therefore, you must have a regular blood pressure check.

Controllable risk factors;

It has been documented that healthy lifestyle can help prevent and control high blood pressure. If you have not started healthy lifestyle habits, learn more about it and start now. For your Health is your Wealth and your Life, you got to maintain it! There is no Wealth without Health and there is no Life without Health.

• Overweight/Obesity: Overweight or obesity increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. Maintain a healthy weight
• Drinking too much alcohol: heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically (AHA). Limit alcohol intake and seek help if you drink heavily.
• Lack of physical activity:
• Stress: Emotions, such as anger, fear, excitement, and pain, generally cause the blood pressure to rise, but the pressure falls to normal when the situation passes. Don’t forget that if your blood pressure remains persistently high, it will increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.

• Quit smoking
• Healthy Eating Pattern: Research has shown that healthy eating plan – food can reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure or help lower it.
• Reducing Salt and sodium in your diet. Choose and prepare foods with less salt and sodium.

Above information is to raise your awareness about your health. For your medical management, Contact your Health Care Provider. For more information about High blood pressure, visit www.aha.org, www.nih.org, www.cdc.org.