'The Business of Health Care Report'

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I’m Doug Hawthorne, CEO of Texas Health Resources, with “The Business of Health Care Report.”

May is High Blood Pressure Education Month, and employers should take this opportunity to talk to your employees about the importance of preventing and managing hypertension.

High blood pressure, often called the silent killer, can lead to costly chronic diseases if not managed. People with high blood pressure are at risk for vision loss, stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease, according to the American Heart Association.

As the focus of healthcare continues to evolve from sick care to prevention and wellness, it’s important to consider the impact high blood pressure has on our health and make the small changes we can to lower this health risk.

The American Heart Association recommends that people with high blood pressure work with their doctors to combine an appropriate diet and exercise program with medication therapy, where necessary. Taking these simple steps can help prevent more serious conditions from developing.

High blood pressure doesn’t always have symptoms, so regular checks are important. For more information about high blood pressure and its causes and risk factors, visit TexasHealth.org/Heart and click on “Hypertension.” The page includes a downloadable tracker to help you understand and track your blood pressure.

Taking responsibility for our own health is the first step toward improving our collective health.

For Texas Health Resources and its faith-based family of hospitals, Texas Health Presbyterian, Texas Health Harris Methodist, and Texas Health Arlington Memorial, I’m Doug Hawthorne.