Hypertension can be caused by a pre-existing condition, such as a kidney abnormality or a structural abnormality of the aorta. This type of high blood pressure is known as secondary hypertension because another medical issue was present first.

Symptoms

People may have high blood pressure for years without knowing, due to its lack of early symptoms. One way to find out if you have the disease is to have routine blood pressure checks during visits with your doctor.

The Importance of Treatment

The first and best course of action when high blood pressure is discovered is to change your diet and exercise habits. However, sometimes even when a person makes healthy changes, blood pressure remains high. In those cases, a physician can prescribe a blood pressure medication.

If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause the serious medical issues, such as:

• • Enlarging of the heart, which can lead to heart failure
• • Aneurysms in the arteries of the heart, brain, legs, intestines or spleen

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which your resting blood pressure is consistently measured at 130/80 or greater. Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

What is High Blood Pressure?

Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Blood pressure is highest when the heart beats (called systolic pressure) and lowest when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). This is why blood pressure is always given as two numbers, such as 120/80, which is considered the normal range.

Once the level reaches 130/80 or above, it is considered high. With this condition, the heart and arteries have to work harder, and the chances of having a stroke, heart attack or kidney problems increases.

Causes and Risk Factors

Research has shown that the following factors put you at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure:

• • Being obese or overweight
• • Being of African descent
• • If male, being over age 45; if female, being over age 55
• • A family history of hypertension
• • Having elevated blood pressure (blood pressure in the 120-129/80 range)
• • Eating an unhealthy diet that is high in sodium and low in potassium
• • Drinking too much alcohol
• • Being physically inactive
• • Smoking and second-hand smoke Read More

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition in which your resting blood pressure is consistently measured at 130/80 or greater. Nearly half of adults in the United States have high blood pressure.

Causes and Risk Factors

Research has shown that the following factors put you at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure:

• • Being obese or overweight
• • Being of African descent
• • If male, being over age 45; if female, being over age 55
• • A family history of hypertension
• • Having elevated blood pressure (blood pressure in the 120-129/80 range)
• • Eating an unhealthy diet that is high in sodium and low in potassium
• • Drinking too much alcohol
• • Being physically inactive
• • Smoking and second-hand smoke

The Importance of Treatment

If left untreated, high blood pressure can cause the serious medical issues, such as:

• • Enlarging of the heart, which can lead to heart failure
• • Aneurysms in the arteries of the heart, brain, legs, intestines or spleen
• • Narrowing of the blood vessels in the kidney, leading to kidney failure
• • Hardening of the arteries, which can cause a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure
• • Blood vessels bursting in the eyes

Prevention

High blood pressure can be easily prevented in some cases. Below are some of the steps you can take to avoid hypertension:

• • Limit salt, fat and alcohol intake.
• • Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.
• • Maintain a healthy weight and exercise regularly.
• • Quit smoking.
• • Reduce your stress.

Brought to you by your Wellness Committee Read More

Each year, once the dust of open enrollment settles, employers always ask, “What could we have done better?” The usual answer: employee communication.

HR is in a unique position to talk about open enrollment because of their relation to employees and their extensive benefits knowledge.

With this in mind, consider having HR distribute open enrollment communication through a multichannel approach. Reminder emails, text blasts, short explanatory videos and posters in the break room are all great methods for reaching employees.

Offering meaningful resources and reminders can boost employee engagement and retention, and improve workers’ long-term health and wellness.

Speak with us to learn more about your communication options. Read More

Each year, Medicare Part D requires group health plan sponsors to disclose to individuals who are eligible for Medicare Part D and to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) whether the health plan’s prescription drug coverage is credible. Plan sponsors must provide the annual disclosure notice to Medicare-eligible individuals before Oct. 15, 2018—the start date of the annual enrollment period for Medicare Part D. CMS has provided model disclosure notices for employers to use. Employers should confirm whether their health plans’ prescription drug coverage is creditable or non-creditable and prepare to send their Medicare Part D disclosure notices before Oct. 15, 2018. To make the process easier, employers often include Medicare Part D notices in open enrollment packets they send out prior to Oct. 15.  Read More