High blood pressure that often leads to strokes and heart attacks are ignored by Americans, according to a recent Vanderbilt University Medical School study.
The research reveals that most Americans are unaware of having high blood pressure and don't follow the guidelines recommended by U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to keep the condition under check.
"This study points out that high blood pressure is still a huge problem in this country," said Dr. Daniel Kolansky, an interventional cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine, reports medical express.
Anyone who has a reading of above 140/90 millimeters has high blood pressure. The study led by the researchers at the institute examined more than 69,000 men and women on high blood pressure.
The study found that around 57 percent of the volunteers were aware of the fact that they had high blood pressure. Blacks were more susceptible to having high blood pressure than whites. Also, blood pressure was more uncontrollable in men than in women.
One in every three people in the U.S. has high blood pressure according to U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute but most of the people, according to the study, don't abide by the medical guidelines. The study also revealed that high blood pressure was more common among obese people.
The increased intake of salt was the primary cause of high blood pressure in Americans. An earlier study had revealed that more than 90 percent of teenagers in the country consumed more salt than recommended in 2010.
Junk and processed foods are primary sources of additional salt in diet. Kids exposed to excess amounts of fast food are more likely to have high blood pressure later. Also, boys brought up by single parents are likely to get high blood pressure when compared to the others in the same age group staying with their parents.
Fresh Garlic, which is rich in allicin, is recommended for people suffering from high blood pressure.
