For more info visit newsinfusion.com May is High Blood Pressure Awareness Month DALLAS —High blood pressure, or HBP, is a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. The longer it’s left untreated, the more serious its complications can become. That’s why you need to know the ABCs of HBP: ♥ Assess your numbers. ♥ Beware of the risk factors. ♥ Create a plan for monitoring and managing your blood pressure. Assess your numbers The first step in preventing and controlling high blood pressure is to be informed. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked by a healthcare professional. The test is simple and the results are important. A normal blood pressure reading should be less than 120/80 mm Hg (less than 120 systolic AND less than 80 diastolic) for an adult age 20 or over. Beware of the risk factors Several health factors — such as family history, increasing age, unhealthy diet and excess weight — can increase your risk for HBP. The American Heart Association’s high blood pressure Web site — www.heart.org/hbp — explains how certain health factors can play an important role in your blood pressure health. You can also assess your risk for high blood pressure with our Blood Pressure Risk Calculator and learn how blood pressure affects your risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease. Create a plan for monitoring and managing your blood pressure. There is no cure for high blood pressure, but the good news is that the condition is manageable — and eight out of 10 people know it, according to a recent American Heart Association survey of 500 people with high blood pressure. About 75 percent of those surveyed monitor their condition outside their doctor’s office, but only about 40 percent keep track of their levels by logging them on paper, or keeping a record of their readings online. It’s important to monitor your blood pressure at home because it can fluctuate. Share those readings with your healthcare provider to ...