Did you know:
· Hypertension (High blood pressure) currently affects 1 in 4 Canadian and is the most important modifiable risk factor in reducing risk of heart disease.
· 17% of the individuals are not aware that they have the condition, as most have no signs or symptoms.
· Uncontrolled hypertension can lead to development of angina, cause heart attacks/heart failure and can lead to sudden death as a result of irregular heartbeat. There is also increased risk of stroke and kidney damage over long-term.
· The primary modifiable risk factors for developing hypertension are: excessive salt consumption, diet high in saturated fat/trans fat, low intake of fruits/vegetable, lack of physical activity, consumption of tobacco or alcohol and being overweight. Managing these risk factors can reduce the risk of developing hypertension.
· You can monitor for symptoms such as early morning headache, nosebleeds, irregular heart rhythms, vision changes and buzzing in the ear. If you have any of following symptoms see your primary care provider.
· The best way to detect high blood pressure is through regular visit to your health care provider and checking your blood pressure.
· Management of hypertension is done through medication, reducing stress and making improvement in your lifestyle (i.e. increased physical activity, healthy diet)
To learn more on this topic, join Bilal, our Nurse Practitioner, for a talk hosted by the Burlington Public Library via Zoom on Tuesday, September 27th, 7pm-8pm.
Visit https://attend.bpl.on.ca/events to register.