Health Watch is a Public Service of the Office of News and Publications and is intended to provide general information only and should not replace the advice of a medical professional. You should contact your physician if you have questions about any of these topics.


This week on Health Watch, we're talking about high blood pressure. This condition strikes almost everyone who lives to a certain age, and there's no way to prevent it. What you can do, however, is delay it. Lifestyle changes are important.

Dr. Ron Victor, chief of the hypertension division at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and an expert on high blood pressure, says diet and exercise are at the heart of those lifestyle changes. Keep an eye on your salt intake - not only what you add to your food, but also what's contained in packaged foods you eat. Try to incorporate a lot of fruits and vegetables in your diet, and try to reduce the amount of cholesterol and saturated fat you eat. If you drink alcohol, limit your consumption. You should also keep an eye on your cholesterol levels. People who have high blood pressure also tend to have high cholesterol.

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^March 2006

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