Backyard Blogging.

February is American Heart Month, so it’s a good time to start thinking more about taking care of your heart health.

If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked, make a commitment to do so today!

According to HealthFinder.com, the following information is important to your well-being:

Who Has High Blood Pressure?

One in three Americans has high blood pressure. Adults should have their blood pressure checked regularly starting at age 18.

How Often Should I Check It?

• If you are age 40 or older, or if you are at higher risk for high blood pressure, get your blood pressure checked once a year.
• If you are aged 18 to 40, and you aren’t at higher risk for high blood pressure, get your blood pressure checked every three to five years.

Am I at Risk?

Your risks for high blood pressure are higher if you:

• Are African American
• A overweight or have obesity
• Are currently pregnant or had high blood pressure during a past pregnancy
• Don’t get enough physical activity
• Drink too much alcohol
• Smoke
• Don’t eat a healthy diet
• Have kidney failure, diabetes, or some types of heart disease

Learn more about your risk for high blood pressure.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries when your heart pumps blood. Your arteries are the tubes that carry blood away from your heart.

Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your arteries to the rest of your body.

What is Hypertension?

Hypertension (“hy-puhr-TEHN-shun”) is the medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get tested. Doctors often call hypertension the silent killer.

Can a Hot Tub Help?

High blood pressure has numerous potential causes, and some may be stress and poor dietary choices. In other cases, it may be other medical problems. So, does a hot tub help relieve your high blood pressure?

First, high blood pressure is a serious condition, and you should consult your doctor before soaking in a hot tub.

What we do know and research has shown is that soaking in a hot tub causes your blood vessels to dilate. This in turn, lowers your overall blood pressure. In addition, soaking in a hot tub definitely relieves stress and helps you relax after a long day.

In combination with medication, lifestyle changes such as better eating habits and more exercise, a hot tub soak can help you control your high blood pressure.

But, again, please check with your doctor.

Final Thoughts

Celebrate life and have your blood pressure checked today. When you take the steps necessary to lower your blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Lowering your blood pressure can help you live a longer, healthier life.