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One in three adults live with high blood pressure — and many don't even know it. Since this condition comes with very few symptoms but has dangerous consequences, we would like to share some important facts about high blood pressure.
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Did you know?
- High blood pressure dramatically increases your risk of heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease.
- Only half of U.S. adults actually have their blood pressure condition under control.
- There are very few obvious symptoms of high blood pressure, which is why it has been named "The Silent Killer."
- According to the CDC, high blood pressure was listed as a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 347,000 Americans in 2008.
- Blood pressure tends to rise with age.
- For every 100,000 deaths in Tarrant County, 268 are caused by high blood pressure. The national rate is 200 per 100,000 deaths.
- High blood pressure can be treated and prevented. Be sure to follow these steps to reduce your risk.
- The North Hills Hospital Heart Center offers cardiac patients the most advanced preventative cardiac care available. Do you Know Your Numbers?
- The DASH Diet is highly recommended for those aiming to lower their blood pressure. Please watch this video: The DASH Diet.
With high blood pressure statistics being as high as they are in the metroplex, we encourage everyone in the North Richland community to have an annual check-up, including a blood pressure screening. Please call 1-855-5NHILLS for a physician referral, or you can visit us online here. North Hills Hospital is proud to be the first hospital in the United States to have a Cycle 4 Chest Pain Center with PCI.
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Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Imagine If It Were Your Child
How good are you to your heart? Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the U.S., so this vital organ of ours should be given top priority. February is American Heart Month so now is the perfect time to take steps in your life to help prevent heart disease. Here are ten ways you can do this:
1. Manage Existing Conditions
If you have diabetes or other health conditions, manage them appropriately. Take the medications prescribed to you by your doctor and always inform your doctor when you’re feeling new symptoms.
2. Get Moving
Exercise is a huge part of heart health and one of the best things you can do for yourself. Adopt a routine that includes some type of physical fitness for at least 30 minutes a day almost every day of the week. Balance this with light strength training and stretching.
3. Maintain a Healthy Weight
According to the CDC, obesity can lead to a variety of health complications, including coronary heart disease. Even losing a little weight can help, so begin right away with a better diet. Instead of focusing on dieting, focus on eating fewer calories and more heart healthy foods like whole grains.
4. Eat Less Meat
Take a hint from the national campaign Meatless Monday and skip meat at least one day a week. Try new recipes that spotlight delicious grains and vegetables.
5. Be Prepared
In the event of a heart attack, know to seek help quickly. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die before they reach the hospital. Have an action plan for yourself and loved ones.
6. Cut out Alcohol
According to the CDC, alcohol can increase risk of many health issues, including high blood pressure. Avoid alcohol to help avoid heart disease.
7. Work With Your Doctor
You and your health care provider are a team. Talk to your doctor about the best ways to prevent heart disease and about your personal risk factors, including family history. Keep appointments and work with your doctor to monitor your cholesterol.
8. Monitor Blood Pressure
Keep your blood pressure under control through regular monitoring and the help of your physician. If you’ve been prescribed medication, take it regularly.
9. Avoid Smoking and Secondhand Smoke
If you smoke, quit. If you don’t, be aware of the risk of secondhand smoke. The US Surgeon General has stated, “Nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or work increase their risk of developing heart disease by 25 to 30 percent and lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.”
10. Beat Stress
Try to limit stress in your life. This isn’t easy, but it’s something you can try to be aware of. Don’t over-extend yourself when it comes to commitments and focus on doing things that make you feel good.
North Hills Hospital’s Chest Pain Center is the first in Texas to achieve Cycle I, II, and III accreditation for chest pain care. Please visit our website to learn when to worry about chest pain. To find a cardiologist, please call 1-855-5NHILLS.
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Imagine you’re at one of your child’s sporting events, and suddenly, amid all the action and commotion, your child collapses to the ground. He is not breathing and lies motionless. His heart has stopped due to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Indeed, one of the most perplexing aspects of SCA is that it often occurs among children and young athletes who appear healthy and have no symptoms. Sudden cardiac arrest may be the first sign of an undetected heart problem. 
More than 350,000 Americans die each year from SCA. Thousands are children. Sudden cardiac death claims a young athlete every three days in the United States. In the past five years, at least 50 children and young athletes have died from probable sudden cardiac arrest in Texas. It can strike anyone, anywhere, and when it does, a victim’s chance of survival depends on the people around them.
When Sudden Cardiac Arrest Strikes …
Bystanders must be able to recognize cardiac arrest, phone 911, begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to get oxygen-rich blood circulating through the victim’s body, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED). Applying the AED will only help the victim. You cannot hurt someone with an AED because it will only apply shock if needed. The AED works with voice prompts and is very easy to use. A sudden cardiac arrest may look like a seizure in the beginning. But remember that anyone who is unresponsive and not breathing normally needs CPR and the AED.
What Can You Do?
· Register for a CPR/AED class, held here at North Hills Hospital on Saturday mornings. The course is designed to build confidence, as well as skills. It uses a lot of hands-on practice in simulated emergency situations. Anyone over the age of 14 who expresses an interest should take the course.
· Know the warning signs that might indicate a need for a pediatric cardiac evaluation: fainting or near-fainting during or after exercise; excessive, unexplained fatigue associated with exercise; unusual chest pain or discomfort with exercise; dizziness and lightheadedness; skipping or racing heartbeats; unexplained heart murmur; or high blood pressure.
· Know your family history. At least 50 percent of the diagnoses that cause sudden cardiac death are genetic.
· Find out if your child’s recreation league has AEDs and trained staff at their practices and games.
Texas State Law requires all public schools and certain athletic events to have an AED and trained staff; unfortunately state law does not require our children’s recreational leagues to have AEDs and trained staff at practice and games.
Our Tragedy
Sarah Friend lived life with purpose. She was a beautiful girl who was loved by her friends, teachers, and her family. On July 14, 2004, Sarah set off to NRH20 Water Park and never returned home. She was three weeks short of her 13th birthday when she collapsed climbing the stairs of a water coaster and was not resuscitated. In the dark hours that followed, the cause of her untimely death was announced as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)—a thickening of the heart muscle. But as more details surfaced, the actual cause of death was diagnosed as sudden cardiac arrest.
Sarah’s passing made apparent the serious need for proper training of staff members in public places and schools so they can recognize and respond to the treatment of all emergencies, including cardiac ones. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest and his or her heart goes into ventricular fibrillation, the only lifesaving remedy is an AED.
The aftermath of this tragic event left many unanswered questions, the largest of which we know would have come from Sarah. As a result, we launched the Sarah Friend Heart Foundation.
Sarah’s Legacy
The annual Run for Sarah 5K and 1Mile Run/Walk is the Sarah Friend Heart Foundation’s way of raising awareness about sudden cardiac arrest in kids. We are very honored and humbled to have North Hills Hospital support our mission these past six years. Our annual fundraiser has donated 25 AEDs to Northeast Tarrant Schools alone and has assisted with their CPR programs.
On Saturday, May 14, 2011, join us and thousands of walkers, joggers and runners as we Run for Sarah! 
Sarah’s life and death are a daily part of my life. She was a student, a sister, and a daughter, and now she is an inspiration to save lives and to prevent other families from having to endure such a loss. We strongly believe that if an emergency action plan is in place, lives will be saved. We have fire evacuation plans and fire drills to save lives, but ask any firefighters, and they’ll tell you that AEDs are used more than fire extinguishers. We need to implement emergency action plans and AED mock drills.
The Future … Heart-Safe Schools and Communities
We are excited to help launch Project ADAM Texas, led by Cook Children’s, in Northeast Tarrant County. Project ADAM will assist our schools with their existing public access defibrillation program and increase awareness and understanding of sudden cardiac arrest and how to properly respond to it. Working together, we will be able to save more lives by promoting the awareness of and response to sudden cardiac emergencies. This development will clearly benefit all our communities, since both children and adults are affected by sudden cardiac arrest.
—Laura Friend
