Patient Education Videos & Resources
In Blood Pressure Screening Saves Lives: Part 1 we made the case for the importance of Blood Pressure Screening. If you haven’t seen the first of this two-part special post for National High Blood Pressure Education Month , then you can find that post here.
To recap: 1 in 3 Americans adults has high blood pressure and about half of those do not have their condition under control. High Blood Pressure is a major health risk for: Stroke, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease, and more (see the infographic below). High blood pressure unfortunately plays a role in many other health conditions. The good news is that there is much that you can do to control your blood pressure and reduce your risks.
For your quick reference, we have provided some of the best Blood Pressure educational resources, below, that we’ve found. The videos below are short, authoritative, and to the point. Please watch as many or all. Below the videos we have links to some excellent printable resources. For your sake and your loved-ones, please take controlling blood pressure seriously.
Family Medicine Associate is here to help! Please call to schedule an appointment for a Blood Pressure Screening.
Call Now to Schedule a Blood Pressure Screening Appointment!
Tip: Why not print this article and bring it with you to discuss with your provider:
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Infographic courtesy of American Heart Association
Know The Basics
Million Hearts ™ Team Up, Pressure Down: High Blood Pressure Basics
“When left untreated, hypertension can cause life-threatening consequences like stroke or heart attack. Find out what’s really happening in your body when your heart is working overtime due to high blood pressure. “
In this charming animated video, follow Emma on her path to getting her blood pressure under control. 1)
Million Hearts ™ Team Up, Pressure Down: Treating High Blood Pressure
“Hypertension can often be controlled with healthy habits and, when necessary, medication. Learn about the risk factors, benefits of taking medication as prescribed, and ways to work with your pharmacist to effectively lower blood pressure”.
Emma gets an education about blood pressure and the importance of self-monitoring at home or at her local pharmacy between her doctor’s appointments. 2)
Tips for Taking Blood Pressure Medicines as Directed
“High blood pressure (hypertension) is one of the leading causes of heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and death in the United States. One major cause of poor blood pressure control is not taking medications at the right time and in the right amount. But you can take steps to help you or your loved ones stick to the ‘script! Watch this animated video to learn how. Download free tip sheets and tools to help control high blood pressure by taking medications as directed at MillonHearts.hhs.gov.“ 3)
Consejos para tomar los medicamentos para la presión arterial según las indicaciones
“La presión arterial alta (hipertensión) es una de las principales causas de enfermedad cardiaca, accidente cerebrovascular, enfermedad renal y muerte en los Estados Unidos. Una de las principales causas de un control inadecuado de la presión arterial es no tomar los medicamentos a la hora y en la cantidad correcta. ¡Pero usted puede tomar medidas para ayudarse o ayudar a sus seres queridos a seguir el “guion”! Vea este video animado para aprender cómo. En MillionHearts.hhs.gov. puede descargar de forma gratuita consejos y herramientas que le ayudarán a tomar los medicamento según las indicaciones y así controlar la presión arterial alta.“4)
Know Your Risks
If Dr. Amie Hsia, Medical Director of the MedStar Washington Hospital Center Stroke Center, could say just one thing about stroke, it would be that it is preventable and treatable. In this video, she shares some of the common risk factors for stroke and heart attacks and encourages people to learn whether they are at risk. Million Hearts™ is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.5)
Most U.S. adults have a heart age greater than their actual age, placing them at increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Watch this short video to learn why your heart age is important and what you can do to improve it.6)
Self Monitoring
Learn proper protocol for taking blood pressure correctly and accurately using an automatic blood pressure device. Enjoy the British accent too! 7)
Here’s a printable Blood Pressure Log courtesy of The American Heart Association. If you self-monitor, this is a handy way to record your blood pressure. Click to Download.
Diet
Though there are probably many diets that are beneficial in lowering and maintaining healthy blood pressure, one diet in particular stands out as the most tested, proven, and endorsed by:
- Mayo Clinic
- American Heart Association
- National Institutes of Health (NIHBI)
D.A.S.H. stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
The D.A.S.H. Diet was originally developed by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) as an approach to control high blood pressure. Over time D.A.S.H. has been also been proven to help with:
– Diabetes
– Weight Loss
– Metabolic Syndrome
– Lowers Cholesterol
In a nutshell, the D.A.S.H. diet
– Promotes vegetables, fruits, and low-fat or fat-free dairy products.
– Includes whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, nuts, and certain vegetable oils.
– Restricts sodium, sugary foods & beverages, and red meat.
Want to learn more about the D.A.S.H. diet? We have some good stuff for you here!
Dr. Oz describes how following the D.A.S.H. Diet, a plan created by The National Institute of Health, can help you lower your blood pressure and lose weight. 8)
Watch this short (1:36 sec.) but EXCELLENT overview of the D.A.S.H. diet, brought to you by HowCast . 9)
More great D.A.S.H. Links!
- In Latest Diet Ranking, DASH Races To The Top(NPR)
- U.S. News & Word Report – DASH Diet ranked #1 in Best Diets Overall.
- Can Whole-Grain Foods Lower Blood Pressure? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- DASH diet to lower high blood pressure (MedlinePlus) Also in Spanish
- DASH Diet: Tips for Shopping and Cooking (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- DASH Eating Plan – Overview of D.A.S.H. (NIH) (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute)
- High blood pressure and diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish (En español)
- Living With the DASH Eating Plan: A Primer on D.A.S.H. with shopping and cooking tips. (NIH)
- Managing Blood Pressure with a Heart-Healthy Diet (American Heart Association)
- Understanding the DASH diet (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish (En español)
- Your Guide To Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH – DASH Eating Plan. (NIH) 64pp.
- Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure. 20pp (NIH)
- IN BRIEF: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure With DASH 6pp (NIH)
Exercise
No article about blood pressure would be complete without mentioning the important role that exercise plays. If you can exercise, you should! If you haven’t exercised for a while, have injuries, or just think that you might be too:
- old
- out of shape
- tired
- busy
- etc., etc., …
then it’s time to think again. Please discuss any concerns about exercise that you might have with your provider. It’s always recommended to consult with your provider/doctor before starting a new exercise regimen. As above, we’ve scoured the web for some of the best, most relevant articles about the importance of exercise in managing blood pressure. Here are a few, below. Well worth reading!
The Mayo Clinic also has a terrific article about how absolutely essential exercise is as either an alternative to or compliment to blood control medications. A Must Read!
Here’s a short but superb article by the American Heart Association “Getting Active to Control High Blood Pressure”. It’s both motivating and reassuring. Lists Dos and Don’ts too.
Call Now to Schedule a Blood Pressure Screening Appointment!
Tip: Why not print this article and bring it with you to discuss with your provider:
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Meditation
Meditation is a timeless, proven practice for effectively lowering blood pressure. And that’s just one of many benefits! Although some people associate mediation strictly with Yoga – as practiced by Yogis, or by Bhuddist Monks, there are well known and highly recommended non-denominational methods of meditation that are also effective. If you’re comfortable with learning mediation in a spiritual context, it has never been easier to find a teacher. A casual Google search for Meditation in your area will likely present you with links to meditation being taught in: Churches, Mosques, Synagogues, Ashrams; Hindu, Sikh, Jain Temples, and more. Yoga schools of every style can be found offering meditation classes. You’ll find various methods of meditation taught in local colleges/universities, YMCA/YWCA .. the list goes on.
For those who would like to learn about meditation in a more secular context, there are methods known as Mindful Meditation (or Mindfulness Meditation), and of course, Transcendental Meditation (non-denominational, but still uses Sanskrit mantras). Take a look at these articles for more information about the benefits of Mediation for controlling blood pressure.
Transcendental Meditation.
NPR: To Lower Blood Pressure, Open Up And Say ‘Om’
Call Now to Schedule a Blood Pressure Screening Appointment!
Sources and References
| ↩1 | ”High Blood Pressure Basics”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Published on Sep 12, 2012, YouTube. |
|---|---|
| ↩2 | ”Treating High Blood Pressure”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Published on Sep 5, 2012, YouTube |
| ↩3 | ”Tips for Taking Blood Pressure Medicines As Directed”,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Published on Mar 3, 2017,YouTube |
| ↩4 | ”Consejos para tomar los medicamentos para la presión arterial según las indicaciones”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Published on May 1, 2017, YouTube |
| ↩5 | ”Know Your Risk Factors”, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),Published on Mar 19, 2012, YouTube |
| ↩6 | ”How Old Is Your Heart? Learn Your Heart Age!” , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Published on Sep 29, 2015, YouTube |
| ↩7 | ”How To Take Your Own Blood Pressure” , ToHealth , Uploaded on Apr 6, 2011 YouTube |
| ↩8 | ”Dr. Oz Explains the D.A.S.H. Diet” , DoctorOz , Published on May 10, 2016 YouTube |
| ↩9 | ”How to Manage High Blood Pressure through Diet” , HowCast, Uploaded on Jul 22, 2010 , YouTube |
