This is Brandi Silver, Family and Consumer Science Extension Agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center raising awareness for World Hypertension Day.

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Having hypertension/high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States .47% of adults in the United States have hypertension.

​​Most of the excess salt we consume is hidden in processed foods, such as packaged snacks, sauces, soups, and other convenience foods including restaurant foods.  The recommendation is always to limit your salt intake as much as possible. Healthy individuals should keep their sodium intake to 2300 milligrams a day.

Make sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly by a doctor. Similar to cholesterol, high blood pressure can be prevented or lowered by reducing your salt intake, being physically active, and by maintaining a healthy weight.

You can start by avoiding foods high in salt, which means reading labels on foods in the grocery store. This one act alone is an excellent way to naturally maintain a healthy blood pressure. A diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables is another great way to decrease your processed food intake, so get out and visit some of the local farmer’s markets! Be on the lookout for upcoming programs highlighting some fresh farmers’ market finds!

This has been Brandi Silver with North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Burke Center reminding you to be healthy and take care of each other! Contact us at 764-9480 for more information.