Posted by Kraig W. Jacobson, M.D. in Primary Care
May 14, 2012
May is High Blood Pressure Education Month and May 17th is World Hypertension Day. The CDC reports that nearly 68 million people have high blood pressure. Aso called hypertension, high blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, which are two of the top three leading causes of death in the United States.
Blood pressure is typically written as two numbers. The first (systolic) number is the top number and it is the higher of the two numbers. It measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. The second (diastolic) is the bottom number, which is the lower of the two numbers and measures the pressure in the arteries between heart beats.
Normal blood pressure is a systolic number less than 120 mmHg and diastolic number less than 80 mmHg. High or abnormal blood pressure is a systolic number of 140 mmHg or higher or diastolic number of 90 mmHg or higher. If your numbers fall in between, with a systolic number ranging from 120-139 mmHg or diastolic ranging from 80-89 mmHg, you are considered to be in the prehypertension category.
Below is a chart created by the American Heart Association that will help you see where you fall in terms of blood pressure:
Quick facts on high blood pressure:
- One in three adults have high blood pressure.
- One in three adults with high blood pressure do not get treatment.
- One in two adults with high blood pressure do not have it under control.
- For people younger than 45 years old, the condition affects more men than women. Women 65 years and older are more affected than their male counterparts.
- Over 20 percent of American adults ages 18 years or older have prehypertension.
- In the U.S., high blood pressure is more common among African Americans than whites; about 44 percent of African American women have high blood pressure.
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for heart disease, congestive heart failure, kidney disease and stroke.
- In 2007, high blood pressure was a primary or contributing cause of death for 336,353 Americans. Also in 2007, more than 46 million visits were made to doctor’s offices for hypertension.
Hypertension in industrialized countries
Among most populations in industrialized countries, the prevalence of hypertension increases dramatically with age; in the United States the prevalence increases from about 10 percent in persons 30 years of age to 50 percent in those 60 years of age. However, some persons, including strict vegetarians, whose diet consists of mostly vegetable products, and those whose sodium intake is low, have virtually no increase in hypertension with age.
What can you do?
You can be aware of hypertension. We also recommend that you raise awareness of hypertension with your family and friends. Consider sending a Health-e-Card, which poses the question “Do you know your blood pressure numbers?” Please feel free to ask our physicians about hypertension.
We will discuss hypertension prevention, as well as diet, genetic factors and hypertension types in greater detail in future blog posts, so check back often.
Posted by Jonathan B. Stout, M.D. in Primary Care
Apr 30, 2012
Spring is in the air and summer is right around the corner. If you do not ride your bike much, now is a great time to dust it off and ride to work. May is National Bike Month, which is sponsored by The League of American Bicyclists.
Get out and enjoy “Bike to Work Week” May 14-18, then top off your week of riding with “Bike to Work Day” on Friday, May 18. Giving your car and the environment a break for one week are just a couple reasons to ride your bike to work. Riding your bike is also beneficial to your health.
Healthful reasons to ride your bike include:
- Provides cardiovascular exercise
- Reduces stress
- Increases aerobic fitness
- Tones your body
- Lowers your blood pressure
- Promotes joint health
Why I ride my bike to work
I became a full-time bike commuter when I moved to Eugene/ Springfield in 1989. My favorite work commutes have been those with relatively long stretches along the Willamette River. I like to say that traveling by bike is the answer to many of the most important issues of our day. Importantly, for me, it promotes health in all the ways exercise should. It also minimizes degradation of the environment and the nation’s dependence on foreign energy.
Bike safety
For those who try commuting by bike, be safe. Helmets and good brakes are a must. Choose a route that is attractive to you, and take advantage of the widely available bike lanes Eugene/Springfield provides. Additionally, take the opportunity to get to know the neighborhoods you ride through, while always being attentive for that 1 driver in 100 who may not be paying enough attention.
If you’re feeling ambitious, you might even consider taking part in our local Business Commute Challenge. I’ll certainly be riding on Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 18. Although riding a bike to work every day may not be for everyone for various reasons, we hope some of you will accept the challenge. Feel free to ask me questions about the health benefits of biking to work. I look forward to seeing you on the bike paths around town!
