MANY island residents interviewed by this writer are aware of the negative impact of high blood-pressure or hypertension on one’s health. They said they have taken precautionary measures, but they are mainly worried about what they eat.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says we should choose healthy meal and snack options to help avoid high blood pressure and its complications.
“Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables,” CDC stated.
“Talk with your health care [provider] about eating a variety of foods rich in potassium, fiber, and protein and lower in salt (sodium) and saturated fat. For many people, making these healthy changes can help keep blood pressure low and protect against heart disease and stroke.”
CDC also recommends the following:
• Keep yourself at a healthy weight. “Talk with your health care [provider] about ways to reach a healthy weight, including choosing healthy foods and getting regular physical activity.”
• Be physically active. “The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, such as brisk walking or bicycling, every week. That’s about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Children and adolescents should get 1 hour of physical activity every day.”
• Do not smoke. “If you do not smoke, do not start. If you do smoke, quitting will lower your risk for heart disease. Your doctor can suggest ways to help you quit.”
• Limit how much alcohol you drink. “Men should have no more than 2 alcoholic drinks per day, and women should have no more than 1 alcoholic drink per day.”
• Get enough sleep. “Enough sleep is part of keeping your heart and blood vessels healthy. Not getting enough sleep on a regular basis is linked to an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke.”
For more information, consult your doctor.
