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Show Pfr (DdDimsaninnifimig Eimitoir'cBSTl; High blood pressure can be controlled with treatment And don't forget: Excessive salt consumption and heavy drinking may contribute to your chances to having high blood pressure. But you can reduce your odds by losing excess weight, quitting smoking, reducing salt consumption, and controlling your blood pressure. 3. Research has shown that some people can lower their blood pressure by cutting down on their salt intake. Table salt is a compound made up of sodium and chloride. It is the sodium in salt that causes the problem. Most of us consume much more than we need. If you are having a problem with your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe pills or ask you to cut down on your salt consumption. To reduce your sodium intake, you can eliminate table salt from your diet and avoid prepared and canned foods. 4. High blood pressure is a family affair. Doctors have found that there is a chance of more than one member of a family having high blood pressure. Family members will benefit if they leam early on how to deal with high blood pressure, watch their own weight, cut back on salt, and get more exercise. As they help you treat your high blood pressure, they will help themselves. Give your family members things to do to help them help you control your high blood pressure. Your doctor or nurse can tell you how to measure blood pressure and record readings on a chart. A family member might be asked to remind you to take daily medication. Family members also can help with pill refills, doctor visits, and getting help from other health workers like educators, nutritionists, or dietitians. dieti-tians. For more information on controlling controll-ing high blood pressure contact your local health department. , , by JACKIE A. SMITH consumer information writer Utah Department of Health "Making Control Your lifetime Goal" is the theme of High Blood Pressure Month sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the Cardiovascular Program of the Utah Department of Health. How much do you know about high blood pressure? For instance, do you know that: 1. High blood pressure is a condition in which a person's blood pressure becomes too high and stays there. Blood pressure normally goes up and down during the day depending oh a person's activities. The problem occurs when blood pressure stays too high. About one in four Americans has high blood pressure. It is a dangerous disease if untreated because it can lead silently but directly to crippling or deadly events heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure. High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it has no outward -signs. A person can have it and not even know. It rarely produces symptoms. It does not hurt, and it rarely causes dizziness, nervousness nervous-ness or headaches. As a result, many people live with high blood pressure for years without knowing it, but they still suffer the physical effects. It is very important for people to have a regular blood pressure checkup and, if it is high, to follow the prescribed treatment. Along with drugs, salt reduction, weight loss for' the overweight, and exercise are among the most important ways to treat high blood pressure. 2. Good health habits help you beat the odds. What do uncontrolled high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and smoking have in common? They all increase your , chances of getting heart disease. f 1 v: |