22 THE COURIER SUN • DECEMBER 22, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com wellness City’s blood pressure rate is skyrocketing: report The Health Department published on Dec. 19 two Epi Data Briefs that point to an increase in high blood pressure rates across New York City. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a leading contributor to heart disease and stroke, two diseases which together account for 1 in 5 premature deaths (under age 65) in New York City. In the past decade, the prevalence of hypertension in New Yorkers has increased by 11 percent. Today, over 1 in 4 adults in New York City (estimated 1.8 million people) report having hypertension. The first Epi Data Brief, “Hypertension in New York City: Disparities in Prevalence,” highlights populations that have a greater burden of hypertension and describes how many New Yorkers are not meeting healthy lifestyle recommendations that are important in preventing hypertension and its complications. The second Epi Data Brief, “Hypertension Hospitalizations and Related Morbidity in New York City,” shows that there were nearly 100,000 hospitalizations for hypertension, heart disease or stroke in 2014, totaling over half a million days in the hospital. Both Epi Data Briefs are available here. As part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s OneNYC goal of reducing premature mortality by 25 percent by 2040 and the Health Department’s Take Care New York 2020 target of reducing sodium intake among New Yorkers, the Health Department will convene key stakeholders in 2017 to discuss and develop a citywide response to reduce hypertension rates. “Hypertension is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke. It’s a condition the majority of New Yorkers either have or are on track to develop, but it doesn’t have to be our destiny,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “The reports we released today also highlight the striking disparities in burden of hypertension, in particular among the black and Latino populations and those living in high-poverty neighborhoods. We have made significant gains in reducing smoking prevalence over the past decade, and we want to see the same in hypertension. The Health Department will be launching a citywide hypertension response to ensure every New Yorker, regardless of race or neighborhood they reside in, has access to the resources and knowledge they need to prevent and control this disease.” Among the reports’ highlights: • Hypertension was more commonly reported among adults who are black or Latino compared with those who are white (35 percent and 33 percent vs. 24 percent) and those living in very high-poverty neighborhoods compared to those living in low-poverty neighborhoods (32 percent vs. 24 percent). • While hypertension is typically more common among older adults, over one in 10 adults younger than 45 years of age reported having hypertension in 2015. • The report also describes how many New Yorkers are not meeting healthy lifestyle recommendations that are important in preventing hypertension and its complications. For example, in 2010, two-thirds of all adults reported consuming more sodium than the recommended daily limit (<2300 mg per day). • There were nearly 100,000 hospitalizations for hypertension, heart disease or stroke in 2014. More than half (57 percent) of the hypertension hospitalizations, which are typically preventable with access to regular, high-quality primary care, occurred in adults less than 65 years of age, with very high-poverty neighborhoods having 3.5 times the rate among adults living in low-poverty neighborhoods. An important step in decreasing the number of hospitalizations is preventing and controlling hypertension. New Yorkers can prevent and control hypertension by taking steps to live a heart-healthy lifestyle, such as eating a healthy diet low in sodium (salt), getting active, maintaining a healthy weight, and if prescribed, taking medicines as directed. New Yorkers can also check blood pressure regularly at home or at a local pharmacy. For more information, call 311 to order free copies of the Health Department’s High Blood Pressure Health Bulletin. The average New York City adult consumes nearly 40 percent more sodium than the daily recommended limit. High sodium intake can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke. Over 75 percent of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from packaged and restaurant foods, and even similar foods can contain highly variable amounts of sodium, making it difficult for individuals to lower their sodium intake. The Health Department this month launched the “Look Before You Eat” campaign, which reminds New Yorkers to look for the sodium warning icons on menus when dining in chain restaurants throughout New York City. The salt shaker icon — part of the city’s new mandated sodium warning rule for chain restaurants — must be posted next to menu items with 2,300 mg of sodium or more, the total daily recommended limit. From the NYC Department of Health
SC12222016
To see the actual publication please follow the link above