The USPS Wellness team is reminding employees to check their blood pressure if they haven’t done so recently.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75 million people in the United States have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension or the “silent killer.” Normal blood pressure is below 120 over 80.
If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause stroke, aneurysms, heart failure and even death.
The Wellness team offers these tips to help lower your blood pressure:
- Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet
- Reduce sodium intake
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Maintain a healthy weight
Many pharmacies and supermarkets offer stations where you can check your blood pressure for free.
The CDC’s site has extensive information about high blood pressure, while the Wellness LiteBlue page has details about other resources for employees.