-: Mar 20, 2020 / Rebecca Barnes

Do You Know the Facts About High Blood Pressure? Take the Quiz!

How much do you know about High Blood Pressure? High Blood Pressure has been pretty common in the media and news in recent years, and rightfully so. This condition affects many people and should be taken seriously. Read on below for some tips on how to manage this deadly condition and see how much you know about it.

What Do You Know?

  1. True or False: One in five Americans has high blood pressure.
  2. True or False: Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can cause health problems if it stays high for a long time.
  3. True or False: High blood pressure often has plenty of warning signs, so it’s not that important to see your doctor regularly for checkups.
  4. True or False: In the treatment of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes can be as significant as taking medication.
  5. True or False: Your age, sex, race, and ethnicity can affect your risk for high blood pressure

How Did You Do?

Let’s check your answers against the facts.

  1. One in five Americans has high blood pressure. This is actually The fact is more staggering than this — one in three Americans actually have high blood pressure. This means that an estimated 67 million Americans are affected by high blood pressure. This includes people of all ages, sex and ethnicities.
  2. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. This is According to the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, high blood pressure can lead to heart disease and stroke — two leading causes of death in the United States.
  3. High blood pressure often has plenty of warning signs, so it’s not that important to see your doctor regularly for checkups. This is High blood pressure often has no warning signs at all. Many people don’t even realize that they have it, so it’s extra important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
  4. In the treatment of high blood pressure, lifestyle changes can be as important as taking medication. This is Speak with your physician about the best ways to control your high blood pressure and read through our tips below.
  5. Your age, sex, race and ethnicity can affect your risk for high blood pressure. This is While these factors are certainly beyond your control, there are many factors that you can control. Read through our tips section to take control of what you can.

6 Tips for Managing or Preventing High Blood Pressure

There’s so much you can do to manage or prevent high blood pressure. Here are our top 6 tips:

  1. Check your blood pressure regularly. You can’t treat or manage something when you don’t know what your levels are.
  2. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Include lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and heart-healthy grains. Visit the CDC website for more nutrition tips.
  3. Exercise often. If you’re new to exercise, aim for 30 minutes of walking three times a week.
  4. Keep your weight at a healthy level. Eating the right balanced diet and incorporating exercise into your daily routine are keys to achieving this goal.
  5. Limit your alcohol intake. We’re not saying you have to give it up completely, but heavy use has been linked to a variety of illnesses, including kidney and liver disease, and cancer.
  6. Stop smoking. Cigarette smoke, vaping and second-hand smoke are harmful to everyone’s health. Visit the CDC’s website for all the facts and information to help you quit the butts.

Occoquan-Woodbridge-Lorton Volunteer Fire Department (OWL VFD) is one of the largest and busiest volunteer fire departments in the United States, with almost 300 members. OWL VFD provides fire suppression, EMS care and rescue services to 80,000 residents in our 27-square-mile area through the operation of three fire stations. OWL volunteer firefighters and EMT’s work the 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift, five days a week, plus 24/7 holidays and weekends. For more information on OWL VFD, become a fan on our Facebook page here.

Posted in: News, Public Safety