SEPTEMBER 2 YFOOD GUIDE 41The number of high blood pressure
cases alcohol is responsible for.
To help relieve this hypertension,
females should have no more than
one standard drink per day, and
males no more than two. A standard
drink contains 10g of alcohol, which
equates to just 100ml of wine or
285ml of full-strength beer.1 IN 10
120/80 mmHg
That’s a normal blood pressure reading. The top number
(called systole) is a measure of the pressure as your heart
contracts and pumps blood throughout your body, and the
bottom number (called diastole) is a measure of pressure
as your heart relaxes and refi lls with blood.ZERO
High blood pressure is silent — there
areusuallynosymptoms, soregular
screeningisparamount.✽^ One inthreeAustralians
has high blood pressure.
✽^ It is the leading risk factor for
developing heart disease.
✽^ Having high blood pressure
increases your risk of stroke,
heart attack, kidney disease
and type 2 diabetes.
✽^ Risk factors for high blood
pressure include a family
history of the condition,
consuming too much salt,
being overweight, drinking
too much alcohol, smoking,
being physically inactive,
and having high cholesterol.
✽^ In most instances, med ication
is needed to treat high blood
pressure.High blood
pressure
30
TO
45MINUTES
That’s how much time you should
spend doing moderate physicalactivit
at least fi ve days a week to support
heart health. It’s the kind of activityth
makes you huff and puff, but doesn
tire you so much that you can’tho
a conversation. Any movementy
enjoy will work, so step to it!THE FACTS!