Blood Pressure
Why?
High blood pressure (hypertension) increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. It puts a big strain on your heart, making it work extra hard to pump blood around your body. High blood pressure can also damage blood vessels. Studies show a direct link between high blood pressure and heart disease, blindness, kidney disease and death.
Even if you don’t have diabetes, keeping your blood pressure under control is important for overall health, and reduces cardiovascular risk.
Blood pressure target
Good lifestyle management plays a key role in controlling blood pressure. In addition to general exercise and healthy meal plan recommendations with lots of vegetables and fruit, you may also be advised to limit your intake of salt and alcohol.
However, don’t try to rely on lifestyle changes alone. Recent studies show that medication is also invariably required to reduce and maintain healthy blood pressure levels for those at risk. Multiple drugs are often recommended.
Talk to your doctor. Medication, nutritional changes and exercise may all be prescribed. Aim for a blood pressure target at or below 130/80.