Nearly one in three American adults has hypertension, or high blood pressure (HBP). It means the heart has to work harder to pump blood. This increases the risk for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Here’s what you need to know about HBP.

By the Numbers
Most people with HBP have no symptoms. The only way to know whether you have HBP is to have your blood pressure measured. It’s classified by these ranges:

Normal: lower than 120/80 mm Hg
Prehypertension: 120 to 139/80 to 89 mm Hg
Hypertension: 140/90 mm Hg or higher

These categories apply to adults who aren’t taking blood pressure medicines and don’t have conditions such as diabetes or kidney disease.

Risk Factors
In addition to eating a high-sodium diet, other lifestyle factors that may contribute to HBP include being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, not consuming enough potassium, getting too little exercise and smoking. Avoiding these risk factors may help you prevent or manage HBP.

You’re also more likely to develop HBP if you have a family history of the condition or are African-American, a woman older than age 55 or a man older than age 45.

A Short Walk to Better Health
Research has found that four 10-minute walks helped reduce blood pressure more than one 40-minute walk in people with HBP.

For more ways to get exercise and manage HBP, visit www.paramounthealthcare.com and click on “Better Health for Life.”