Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) is a not-for-profit hospital that provides high quality inpatient, outpatient, and ambulatory services for the communities in the tri-state area of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a medical condition that increases a person’s risk for heart disease and stroke. It can also play a role in kidney failure, sexual dysfunction, cognitive decline, and pregnancy complications.

High blood pressure is tricky because many people who have it also have no symptoms (it’s often referred to as the “silent killer”)! The good news is that hypertension is both preventable and manageable. In either case, following a healthy lifestyle is key; and that means eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy body weight, staying physically active, not smoking, and limiting alcohol and sodium intake.

Controlling high blood pressure is also within reach by measuring your blood pressure regularly and taking blood pressure medications as prescribed by your healthcare provider.  Also keep in mind people with diabetes can help control their blood pressure by sticking to a diabetes treatment plan.