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High Blood Pressure:
The Facts
Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the inner walls of blood vessels. High blood pressure, or hypertension, puts you at risk for serious conditions such as a heart attack or stroke. Unfortunately, about 42% of Canadians who have high blood pressure are not aware that they have it. Learn more about this "silent" condition and how you can make lifestyle and diet changes to help manage it.
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High blood pressure and its causes
In a bicycle tire, air pressing against the inner wall of the tire keeps it inflated. Depending on how much air is in the tire, it is either full of air and ready to roll, or too low and looking "flat." In the body, blood pressure works the same way. Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing against the inner walls of blood vessels. Just like air in a bike tire, the force of the blood inside a blood vessel determines the blood pressure.
To measure a person's blood pressure, doctors take several readings using a blood pressure cuff (also called a sphygmomanometer). Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers and is often read as one number "over" another (e.g., "120 over 70"). These two numbers represent the pressure inside the blood vessels when the heart contracts (systolic - top number) and when the heart is relaxed (diastolic - bottom number).
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Managing high blood pressure
In order to prevent a stroke or heart attack and to reduce damage to internal organs, it is important to make managing blood pressure a goal. To make this goal a reality, people often involve doctors, pharmacists, family, and friends.
Hypertension treatment always includes changes to lifestyle and the foods you eat. If a person's blood pressure does not lower through lifestyle and diet changes alone, a doctor may add medication to the treatment. Even if medication is added to the mix, lifestyle and diet remain an integral part of treating this condition.
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Cancer: Get Informed
Over 3,000 Canadians are diagnosed with cancer each week. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women. For men, prostate cancer is the cancer most often diagnosed. Being well informed can help you fight cancer. Learn more about this life-altering disease.
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