Controlling stroke risk starts with managing blood pressure

Strokes can happen to anyone, at any age. In fact, globally about one in four adults over the age of 25 will have a stroke in their lifetime. That’s a significant impact. But the power to prevent stroke is in our hands, and managing high blood pressure is an important place to start when trying to reduce stroke risk.

“High blood pressure is the leading cause of stroke and the most controllable risk factor,” said Leopoldo Puga, M.D., FACC, interventional cardiologist, Dignity Health and volunteer expert for the American Stroke Association. “High blood pressure is dangerous because it often doesn’t have any symptoms. In fact, more than 1 in 3 American adults with high blood pressure don’t know they have it.”

Know Your Numbers

According to the American Stroke Association, a normal blood pressure is below 120/80. If it has been a while since you’ve had your blood pressure measured, it’s important to get a reading. Learn your numbers by visiting your medical provider, or many pharmacies and drug stores have blood pressure kiosks you can use. If you have an at-home blood pressure measurement device, dust it off to learn your current numbers.

If after obtaining a reading you learn your numbers are high, schedule a visit with your health care provider to confirm a diagnosis of high blood pressure and to design a plan to improve your numbers. “Knowledge is power,” said Puga. “Your medical team has tools to help you move your numbers within a healthy range.” Getting the recommended amount of exercise, reducing sodium intake, and medication are items your care provider may recommend.

Ethnicity and Physical Changes May Play a Role

Blood pressure numbers can change over a lifetime, so regular readings are recommended. For example, physical changes associated with menopause increase a woman’s risk of developing high blood pressure. Women of Black and Hispanic ethnicity may develop high blood pressure at a younger age and have a higher average blood pressure than other racial groups, according to the Centers for DiseaseControl and Prevention. Regular monitoring can detect high blood pressure in the early stages, and steps can be implemented to reduce its impact on the brain and other vital organs.

Stroke is dangerous and deadly, but the ability to control and treat several risk factors for stroke, including high blood pressure is within your control. For more information about high blood pressure and stroke, including the American Stroke Association’s tool to assess your personal stroke risk, visit stroke.org.