Blood pressure is the force of blood, pumped by the heart, against the walls of blood vessels as it moves through the body. The majority of people have high, not low, blood pressure, however, and there is estimated to be 68-million people living with it in the United States, which equates to nearly one in three people. What makes hypertension, as high blood pressure is also known, so alarming, is that it is a silent killer and does not present with any of its own symptoms, so a person can live with it for a while, until a major incident brings it to the fore. Having your blood pressure tested on a regular basis at clinics in Las Vegas is important as you get older, as it is normal for levels to rise as you age.

While high blood pressure might not have symptoms of its own, it can cause other potentially fatal conditions. It contributes to cardiovascular disease and stroke, two of the three leading causes of death in the United States, and can also cause congestive heart failure and kidney disease. In 2008, it contributed to more than 347 000 deaths.

Following a healthy lifestyle is important to keep levels within normal parameters. Losing weight can make a big difference, as can eating a wholesome diet and getting regular exercise. One of the biggest ways you can impact on your blood pressure is reducing your salt intake. Americans eat around 3300mg a day on average, which is twice the normal limit for people with normal blood pressure. You should not eat more than the equivalent of one teaspoon of salt a day, but it is often a hidden ingredient in many processed foods we eat, so cooking your own meals and using fresh ingredients with no additives is the only feasible way to do it. If national consumption was just cut down to 2300 mg a day, around 11-million cases of hypertension could be avoided.

Smoking and alcohol consumption also increase blood pressure, so you should be looking at eliminating them from your menu. If your blood pressure is high, your doctor is likely to recommend medication to help you lower it to safer levels. It is important that you take the medication as directed and make the appropriate lifestyle changes to avoid a major health incident. Using low cost Medical services in Las Vegas can ensure that getting testing and prescription refills is cost-effective and convenient so that you can continue treatment for as long as necessary.