The American Heart Association celebrates this month as Heart Healthy Month. One of their primary focuses is high blood pressure and how it can be a “silent killer.”
High blood pressure is classified as anything higher than 130(systolic)/90(diastolic). It is known as a silent killer because most people do not have any symptoms of high blood pressure or hypertension.
High blood pressure can happen to anyone, but can affect those of African American dissent more than those that are not. If it goes untreated for a prolonged period of time it can cause damage to the heart.
Some signs or symptoms of high blood pressure are dizziness, prolonged headache or seeing spots in your line of vision. Although many of these symptoms are not directly correlated with high blood pressure, they can be a way that the body “tells” you that there is something wrong. Hypertension should be diagnosed and treated by a medical director and medication should be taken as instructed.
Checking your blood pressure is the first step for those of you that have concerns about having high blood pressure. Please see the diagram on the correct way to take your blood pressure.
For more information, visit www.heart.org
For more information on Black History Month and how African Americans are pioneering the way through the American Heart Association, please click here.
Corrie Oberlin, RN,
School Nurse