A new study shows fewer people are dying because of high blood pressure, but doctors say the number of people battling high blood pressure it still too high.
“Mortality rates are going down for everybody with high blood pressure, but despite the availability of several types of medication to reduce blood pressure, there is still a large gap between those with hypertension and those without,” said Earl S. Ford, M.D., M.P.H., study author and medical officer with the U.S. Public Health Service at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The study found:
- Those with high blood pressure are 42 percent more likely to die than those without high blood pressure
- Mortality rates had fallen to 14.3 in hypertensive patients — 57 percent higher than in those without high blood pressure
- Although men are more likely to die than women the decline in deaths among hypertensive men was more than four times larger than among hypertensive women
People like Earl Spencer say medications help him keep his blood pressure under control but he knows he needs to take better care of himself.
“The pills help, but I know that my weight is a concern and something I need to take a 
more active approach in dealing with,” he said. This Minneapolis native weighs close to 300 pounds. “I know if I get my weight under control it will help alleviate a lot of other health problems.”
Tips to eating healthier
- *Change gradually
- *Add a vegetable or fruit serving at lunch and dinner.
- *Use only half the butter or margarine you do now.
- *Spread out the servings. Have two servings of fruits and/or vegetables at each meal, or add fruits as snacks.
- *Treat meat as one part of the meal, instead of the focus. Try casseroles, pasta, and stir-fry dishes.
- *Have two or more meatless meals a week.
We specialize in providing our over 1,000,000 customers with relevant product and condition information created by our professional editorial staff which includes our team of medical writers, medical practitioners, and health educators. eDrugStore.com Staff on Facebook