May is National High Blood Pressure Awareness Month.
High blood pressure is common and can become dangerous. Almost 1 in 3 U.S. adults — or almost 75 million people — suffer from high blood pressure, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Alarmingly, more children and teenagers are being diagnosed with high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is called the silent killer because it usually has no warning signs and can lead to other health issues such as stroke and heart attacks. But there are steps you can take to control and prevent high blood pressure:
- Eat a healthy diet.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Get enough physical activity.
- Don’t smoke.
- Limit alcohol use.
The Wellness LiteBlue page has additional information on blood pressure.