May is observed annually as National Blood Pressure Month and it’s the perfect time for people to get the facts about their own blood pressure. High blood pressure has been labeled the silent killer and the reason that’s the case is that it doesn’t produce any symptoms.

A person can live for years with hypertension until it eventually announces itself in the form of a heart attack or a stroke. That’s why it’s important for everyone to get their blood pressure checked regularly, and if they have high blood pressure, get it immediately treated. Hypertension treatment may include medicine, changes in diet, and increasing exercise levels.

The History Of National Blood Pressure Month

This month was created by the CDC just a few decades ago to deal with the epidemic of high blood pressure and to encourage people to get a physical and to take appropriate action if they discover that they are hypertensive.

This month is now promoted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute as well as various healthcare organizations all across the United States. This month helps to bring high blood pressure to people’s attention and as a result, has probably saved countless lives since its inception.

Facts About Blood Pressure

People don’t give much thought to blood pressure, and as a result, may not know a whole lot about it or the ramifications of having high blood pressure. That’s why we’ve decided to list some important facts about blood pressure below. Let’s take a quick peek at them.

• High blood pressure has been linked to a decline in cognitive functioning and even dementia.
• About 33% of the people with high blood pressure don’t even know they have it.
• Women who have high blood pressure during pregnancy are more likely to have complications.
• Erectile dysfunction has been linked to high blood pressure in many cases.
• The normal blood pressure is under 120/80.
• High blood pressure has been linked to sleep apnea, kidney disease, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, aneurysms, and a variety of other conditions.

Observing National Blood Pressure Month

Before a person does anything else during this month, they need to visit their doctor or nurse practitioner and have a full workup done. If they find that their blood pressure is elevated above 120/80, then appropriate action has to be taken immediately.

This includes working with a doctor to bring those numbers down. When a doctor discovers their patient has high blood pressure they will often prescribe medicine, and encourage lifestyle changes such as losing weight, getting more exercise, cutting salt from the diet, and reducing stress.

Anyone interested in spreading the word about this month can do so by telling friends and family members about it or using the hashtag #NationalBloodPressureMonth. And spreading information about National Blood Pressure Month may end up saving someone’s life, so we all should take the time to do it. Right after we have our own blood pressure checked, of course.