Statewide Iowa — A new study finds about one in three Iowans have hypertension or high blood pressure.
Dr. David Goff, director of Cardiovascular Sciences at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, says Iowa ranks 27th in the nation.
The treatable condition can lead to kidney problems, heart attacks, stroke and death. Two years of pandemic living has raised stress levels for nearly everyone, Goff says, and we need to take action to improve our self-care.
Iowans who are stressed need to find ways to decompress and manage that stress, what Goff says is invoking your “relaxation response.”
Some Iowans have picked up bad habits during the pandemic, like alcohol, smoking, overeating and binge-watching television. You won’t be able to tackle them all at once, Goff says, but start with something.
Whether it’s everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or COVID-19, we all face some degree of stress and our bodies react to it. With chronic stress, Goff says you’re more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Find tips on getting healthy at: www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ourhearts
