By Marie Dufour, RD - Hypertension, also known as “The Silent Killer,” affects one in every four American women. In the last 10 years, 30% more women have been diagnosed with the disease. The good news is that hypertension (high blood pressure) is largely preventable.
Six healthy behaviors can reduce the risk of hypertension in women, and each of these behaviors contributes in risk reduction in different ways:
- Maintaining a normal weight (50%)
- Exercising 30 minutes every day (14%)
- Following a low-sodium diet (14%)
- Keeping to a modest alcohol intake (10%)
- Using analgesic sparingly (17%)
- Taking folic acid supplementation (4%)
It is remarkable that overweight women have almost 5 times the risk of developing hypertension than normal-weight women. However, they are often unaware of the disease until it becomes a chronic, irreversible condition.
If I were to plug a TV commercial, it would go something like this:
With ONLY THREE behavior changes, Ladies, you can keep their blood pressure in check.
- Exercise 30 minutes daily,
- Follow the Dash Diet (reduced in sodium, high in fruits and vegetables)
- Keep alcohol intake to 1 drink a day maximum.
Your body weight will thank you… your heart will thank you!
Filed under: Lifestyle, diet, public health , community nutrition, DASH diet, diet, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, heart health, hypertension, Marie Dufour RD, obesity, weight control, women's Health
