DON’T RISK LOSING IT TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.
WHAT TO ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER ABOUT
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, STROKE, AND DEMENTIA
Black men ages 28 to 45 are at increased
TIPS
risk of high blood pressure1, which is a
leading cause of stroke and can cause • Make the most of your visit with
dementia2. Many factors can increase your your healthcare provider by asking
risk of high blood pressure, including all your questions.
genetics and family history, having certain • If you don’t understand something, ask
medical conditions (like diabetes), and your healthcare provider to explain.
lifestyle factors3. You can have high blood • Take notes.
pressure without having any symptoms.
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
Over time, uncontrolled high blood 1. What factors could increase my risks for high
pressure, especially in mid-life, can blood pressure, stroke, and dementia? (e.g.,
damage blood vessels and lead to a genetics and family history, having certain
stroke². High blood pressure can also medical conditions, lifestyle, etc.)?
lead to other damage in the brain that
has been associated with dementia². 2. What is my current blood pressure
number, and what is considered normal?
The good news is, you can take steps now
3. Why is it important for me to take
to get your blood pressure numbers into
control of my blood pressure now?
a healthy range—or keep your numbers
in a healthy range—to help prevent stroke 4. What steps can I take to manage my blood
and dementia later in life. Use this guide pressure and reduce my risks for stroke and
to talk to your healthcare provider about dementia? This can include small steps, like
your risks and ways to manage your eating healthier and being more active, and
blood pressure to help prevent stroke larger steps like quitting smoking or using
and dementia. Then, make a plan tobacco (see “My Action Plan” for ideas).
together and stick with it.
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
3. [Link]
MY ACTION PLAN
My blood pressure today is: Challenges that might get in my way of my
action plan are:
My blood pressure should be:
I will check my blood pressure (how often):
My risk factors for high blood pressure, I will stick to my action plan by:
stroke, and dementia are:
(check all that apply)
Age
Race/ethnicity
Family history or genetics
Unhealthy diet
Physical inactivity
My next visit with my healthcare provider is:
Being overweight
Smoking or using tobacco
Misusing alcohol
Using illicit drugs
High cholesterol TOOLS AND RESOURCES
Diabetes There are many tools and resources to help
you manage your risks for high blood pressure,
Steps I will take to manage my risks are: stroke, and dementia.
(check all that apply) • The Mind Your Risks® campaign includes
Manage high blood pressure more information about the link between
high blood pressure and increased risk of
Eat healthy
stroke and dementia, and ways to lower
Lower high cholesterol risks. Take an interactive quiz to test your
Keep active knowledge and learn more.
Quit smoking or using tobacco • The National Heart, Lung, and Blood
Institute has information about high
Avoid misusing alcohol
blood pressure and how to control it.
Avoid using illicit drugs
• The Centers for Disease Control and
Manage my diabetes Prevention provides a variety of articles and
Take medicine as prescribed by resources about preventing and managing
my healthcare provider high blood pressure to stay healthy.