High Blood Pressure & High Cholesterol
High blood pressure affects about one in four Americans, while high cholesterol affects about one in three Americans. Both conditions are more common in older adults, but they can occur at any age.
What are the risk factors for high blood pressure and high cholesterol?
There are many things that can increase your risk for developing high blood pressure or high cholesterol, including:
- smoking
- being overweight or obese
- not being active
- eating a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
- having a family history of hypertension or high cholesterol
- being African American or Hispanic American
How do you know if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol?
There are several ways to find out if you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Your doctor may order tests to measure your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. You can also screen yourself by taking a simple quiz or self-check.
What can you do to lower your risk for high blood pressure and high cholesterol?
-Maintain a healthy weight: Obesity is a leading risk factor for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Lose weight if you need to, and aim to maintain a healthy BMI.
-Exercise regularly: Exercise can help improve your cholesterol levels and lower your blood pressure. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week.
-Eat a healthy diet: Eating a healthy diet is key to lowering your risk for high blood pressure and cholesterol. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Limit unhealthy fats and processed foods.
-Quit smoking: Cigarette smoking can raise your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, as well as increase your risk for other health problems. If you smoke, quit.
-Limit alcohol: Too much alcohol can also raise your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Stick to moderate amounts, or even better, abstain from drinking altogether.
How We Can Help
If you’re concerned about your high blood pressure or high cholesterol, we can help. We offer a variety of programs and services to help you manage these conditions and improve your health. For example, we offer a hypertension self-management program and a cholesterol education program. We can also help you create a personalized treatment plan and provide support and resources to help you stick with it.
If you’re interested in learning more about our programs and services for high blood pressure or high cholesterol, please call us. We would be happy to answer your questions and help you get started on the path to better health.
FAQs
Most people with high blood pressure don’t experience any symptoms. That’s why it’s often called the “silent killer.” If left untreated, though, high blood pressure can damage your heart and cause heart failure, stroke, kidney disease, and other health problems. That’s why it’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly starting at age 18.
There are a number of things that can contribute to high blood pressure, including smoking, being overweight or obese, not getting enough physical activity, eating an unhealthy diet, drinking too much alcohol, stress, and sleep apnea. In some cases, though, the cause of high blood pressure isn’t clear.
There are a number of ways to treat high blood pressure, depending on how severe it is. In some cases, making lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthier diet, getting more exercise, and quitting smoking, can help to lower your blood pressure. If lifestyle changes aren’t enough to lower your blood pressure, you may also need medication. There are a variety of different medications that can be used to treat hypertension, and your doctor will work with you to find the best medication or combination of medications for you.