February is American Heart Month, a month when all people can focus on their cardiovascular health.  Hypertension also known as high blood pressure is a leading risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body.  Only about 1 in 4 adults with hypertension have their condition under control.

Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage your heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long time. Hypertension is blood pressure that is higher than normal. Nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mm Hg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥ 80 mm Hg or are taking medication for hypertension. 

Download your local Palm Beach County 30 Days of Heart  journal today and get active with your heart! Discover fun tips. Meet others taking the journey. And start down a path toward healthy living.