NIH Radio
High Blood Pressure Topic Added to NIH Senior Health Web Site
Brief Description:
There's a new topic covering high blood pressure on the NIH Senior Health web site.
Transcript:
Akinso: High blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because, in many cases, the symptoms are "silent" - most people who have high blood pressure aren't aware of it until it causes other health problems. High blood pressure, also known as "hypertension" is a major health risk for older Americans. If it isn't treated it can lead to stroke, heart disease, kidney failure, and other serious health problems. You can learn more about hypertension and its related conditions when you check out the High Blood Pressure topic on the website NIHSeniorHealth.gov. According to Dr. Ed Roccella, Coordinator of the National High Blood Pressure Education Program at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute one way to control high blood pressure is with lifestyle changes.
Roccella: If I were a much older American, the first thing I would do is go to my doctor to be sure to have my blood pressure measured. People need to know their blood pressure in numbers; not words, in numbers. You don't want to hear your blood pressure's ok, what is the number. Then working with your doctor, there's a number of different ways to develop lifestyle plans that could help prevent the rise of blood pressure even have blood pressures fall. Walking 30 minutes a day, most days of the week is pretty good advice for most Americans not only for blood pressure but to just get up and around to burn calories; even helps for older Americans. Cutting back on excessive calories would be helpful. If you're overweight lose weight. If you drink more than two drinks a day for men and one for women, you might consider cutting back on excessive alcohol. A diet in fresh fruits and vegetables has been shown to lower blood pressure.
Akinso: The NIH Senior Health website was jointly developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Library of Medicine for older adults and their families. Once again the website is www.NIHSeniorHealth.gov. This is Wally Akinso at the National Institutes of Health Bethesda, Maryland.
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