High blood pressure is a common problem among people living in the United States. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 75 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Our team at AFC Urgent Care Levittown wants you to know the steps you can take to lower your blood pressure if you are one of the many Americans who experience high blood pressure. Read on as we share some insight.

What Happens When Your Blood Pressure Gets Too High?

Blood pressure is the amount of pressure with which blood is hitting the walls of arteries. When your blood pressure is high, that means blood is hitting those walls forcefully, which can damage them over time.

When your blood pressure gets too high, it can put you at an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Therefore, it is important to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.

Blood Pressure Ranges

• Normal—Less than 120 and less than 80
• Elevated—120 to 129 and less than 80
• High Blood Pressure (Stage 1)—130 to 139 AND 80 to 89
• High Blood Pressure (Stage 2)—140 or Higher AND 90 or Higher
• Hypertensive Crisis—Higher than 180 AND/OR Higher than 120

What Can Cause High Blood Pressure?

Some risk factors for high blood pressure are things we can't do anything about, such as our age and our family medical history. But many risk factors can be changed by practicing healthy lifestyle habits.

Smoking, being overweight or obese, not exercising enough, eating too much salt, drinking too much alcohol and being chronically stressed are all risk factors for high blood pressure. Take steps to counteract that risk with a healthy lifestyle.

Ways to Maintain a Normal Blood Pressure

• Lose extra pounds.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Reduce sodium in your diet.
• Limit alcohol consumption.
• Quit smoking.
• Cut back on caffeine.
• Reduce your stress.

When was the last time you had your blood pressure checked? Stop by AFC Urgent Care Levittowntoday. No appointment is necessary!