High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one disease where your bad habits can really make you sorry. Except in cases where aging or genetics are the cause, people with high blood pressure usually have no one to blame but themselves. For ages, doctors have been preaching about leading a healthier lifestyle, yet Americans, including children, grow unrelentingly fatter every year. Obese, of course, is the PC term for it, but call it what you will, it is claiming Americans by the millions.

We have been warned-repeatedly. There are so many bad behaviors underlying high blood pressure, yet Americans seem unable to give them up until disaster strikes. We demand our cigarettes, caffeine, alcohol, salty snacks, and fast food. We would much rather sit on our sofas, pop potato chips and candy, and watch other people exercise on Biggest Loser. We run here and there, work way too many hours at stressful jobs, and struggle to keep things clicking at home. Then we have the nerve to be surprised when our hearts give up.

As there are no symptoms to high blood pressure, it has earned the sinister name "the silent killer." It is in every person's best interest to have regular blood pressure checks. High blood pressure can be regulated if you are aware you have it. For some, drastic lifestyle changes in the areas mentioned above can lower blood pressure. Regular aerobic exercise, for example, is a dependable way to lower your heart rate and extend your life. Many people may fail to achieve results without medication or some kind of supplements. One thing is certain, this is not something you want to ignore.

With one in three Americans living with high blood pressure, one third of them unaware, it pays to be safe. Do not wait until you are hospitalized for a heart attack to learn you suffer from this killer. It is horrifying to know you have high blood pressure, but it is scarier NOT to be diagnosed. In this day of modern technology, you need not be a statistic.