Proven Ways to Keep Your Heart Healthy
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Why Monitoring Your Blood Pressure is Important

This past week I received a text from my sister referencing my dad.

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. All reviews and opinions expressed in this post are based on my personal view. [Learn more]

He had been experiencing pain in his left arm and was concerned he could be facing another blockage in his heart.

Omron EVOLV

Blood Pressure

Thankfully, after an MRI and additional tests, the doctor found a bulging disc in his neck that he referred to as “part of the normal aging process“.

Some steroids, rest, and physical therapy and he’ll be fine.

He assured us it was nothing to be worried about, but he was glad my dad had the forethought to get it checked.

Omron EVOLV blood pressure monitor

My dad knew the signs based on the fact that he had a heart attack before. Due to a pre-existing heart condition and his family medical history, it’s important for him to know the signs.

In fact, it’s important the rest of us also educate ourselves on the symptoms.

Through our partnership with Omron, I’ve been able to learn about how to monitor blood pressure using the Omron EVOLV, as well as what the numbers mean when I read them.

Overall, I’ve been able to learn more about why blood pressure is important, including:

  • Monitor high blood pressure – Because it’s asymptomatic, high blood pressure can be an extremely deceptive risk factor for heart disease. One way to counter that risk is to monitor your blood pressure regularly.
  • Blood pressure numbers – For a normal reading, your blood pressure needs to show a top number (systolic pressure) that’s between 90 and 120 and a bottom number (diastolic pressure) that’s between 60 and less than 80.
  • Eat a heart-healthy diet – Stay away from foods that are high in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
  • Get active – Regular exercise helps reduce high blood pressure and stimulates good blood circulation, therefore benefiting both your heart and your overall health.
  • Manage stress – Although easy to say, learning to manage stress can improve your physical and mental health. Stress contributes to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular risks, so find a way to cope with your stress and keep your anger in check.
  • Manage other health conditions – High cholesterol and diabetes both increase the risk for heart disease, therefore increasing your risk for a heart attack or stroke. Work with your doctor to put together a treatment plan that will help manage your health conditions and keep them under control.

Cardiovascular disease is still the number one cause of death, and stroke is the top cause of adult disability in the U.S., with high blood pressure being the leading risk factor for both these conditions.

Taking the Omron Going for Zero™ pledge has not only helped Colby and me, but our kids as well.

We are better equipped to educate them on how to manage their blood pressure, as well as properly monitor our blood pressure with the EVOLV.

Learn more about the EVOLV and take the Going for Zero pledge to further reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease. PLUS, enter to win an EVOLV and start monitoring your blood pressure at home!