Hypertension Awareness Month
May is Hypertension Awareness Month and today, May 17, is World Hypertension Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of one of the leading causes of premature death in Canadians. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is often called the “silent killer” because it quietly damages you blood vessels without causing symptoms in most cases.
Understanding Blood Pressure
According to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, blood pressure of 120/80 is considered normal and healthy. The top number is your blood pressure when your heart beats and the bottom number is your blood pressure between heart beats. Hypertension can be staged into 2 primary categories:
Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139 or 80-89
Stage 2 Hypertension: 140 or higher or 90 or higher
In Canada
About 23% of Canadians are diagnosed with hypertension. This prevalence significantly increases with age as over 50% of adults aged 60 to 79 have Stage 2 hypertension. Nearly 74% of those with Stage 1 hypertension are unaware they have it, highlighting the silent nature of this condition and importance of regular medical check-ups.
What Can You Do?
Eat according to Canada’s Food Guide by eating plenty of fruits and vegetables throughout the day, limit or cease your use of cigarettes and alcohol, enjoy regular physical activity, and be consistent with your medication.
How Can We Help?
At Calgary Meals on Wheels, our fresh and frozen meals follow Canada’s Food Guide by prioritizing fruits and vegetables and using unprocessed foods. High sodium intakes of more than 2300mg per day are associated with high blood pressure. We follow the Heart and Stroke Foundations guidelines to limit salt in our meal units to 2000mg per day. For those that would like extra support, you can request Low Sodium meals which reduce sodium to 1500mg per day!
Did you know that the average sodium intake in Canadians is 3400 mg per day?
Other Resources
Many Primary Care Networks across Alberta provide access to healthcare professionals with expertise in managing and preventing high blood pressure. Find your Primary Care Network here: Home | Alberta Find a Doctor/
Highland Primary Care Network hosts a walking group in CrossIron Mills Mall every Tuesday from 8:00AM to 9:30AM, providing anyone that attends with a safe and social exercise experience! Find more information here: CrossIron Mills walking group Tuesday – Highland PCN
You can find additional resources by visiting Hypertension Canada’s website here: Hypertension Canada | For Healthcare Professionals
This information is provided by our Registered Dietitian and is not meant to replace advice from your medical doctor or health professional regarding your individual needs. It is intended for educational and informational purposes only.