North Pinellas Adventure Boot Camp for Women
John@BootCampRocks.com
3377 Covered Bridge Dr. W.
Dunedin, FL 34698
www.BootCampRocks.com
727-420-8139
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGH-PRESSURE YOURSELF INTO EXERCISE
(PALM HARBOR, FL April 30, 2012) – As you are reading this, a symptomless potential killer may be wreaking havoc in your body, damaging your health silently and insidiously.
We are talking about high blood pressure – also known as hypertension – which greatly increases a person’s risk for heart disease and other serious illnesses. In fact, hypertensive heart disease, a group of disorders that include heart failure, is the leading cause of death associated with high blood pressure.
“Because hypertension has no symptoms, many people don’t even realize they are ticking time bombs,” says Kevin Carrier, owner of North Pinellas Adventure Boot Camp for Women. “That’s why it’s called ‘a silent killer’.”
Since May is designated as National High Blood Pressure Education Month, it is a good time to get tested and, if needed, treated. This message is especially relevant for an estimated 68 million Americans, including many residents of our area, who, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have hypertension – although the actual number is likely higher because some cases go undiagnosed.
If left unmanaged, hypertension forces the heart to work harder, eventually “exhausting” it so it starts to weaken and wear out. Also, according to Mayo Clinic, elevated pressure can lead to potentially deadly aneurisms, as well as ruptured arteries. And, you are not out of the woods yet: hypertension is also a known risk factor for strokes and kidney failure.
You may be wondering by now whether you have hypertension. While there is no way to know this unless you get checked – and you should, STAT – generally speaking, your risk increases if you are obese, eat a lot of foods high in saturated fats, and are not physically active.
Genetics can also play a role.
“Obviously, if you fall under one or more of these categories, your risk goes up, not only for hypertension, but also for high cholesterol, which is another significant risk factor for heart disease,” Carrier notes.
Fortunately, new research presented last month at the World Congress of Cardiology indicates that regular exercise reduces the risk of death in people suffering from hypertension. By lowering blood pressure to a healthy range, the researchers found, exercise also reduces the risk of developing serious medical conditions.
“Regular physical activity strengthens your heart so it can pump more blood with less effort,” Carrier explains. “When the heart isn’t working as hard, there is less stress on the arteries, which then lowers the blood pressure. And if you exercise regularly for at least 30 minutes to an hour most days of the week, you won’t have to wait long to see positive results.”
An added benefit, Carrier says, is that exercise also helps manage other hypertension risk factors, such as obesity.
What kind of a fitness program is most effective for lowering blood pressure? “Any exercise that strengthens the heart and lungs, and also improves the body’s ability to use oxygen – for example, interval and strength training – will be beneficial,” Carrier says.
About North Pinellas Adventure Boot Camp for Women:
A former personal trainer, Carrier launched the North Pinellas Adventure Boot Camp for Women in Oct. 2007. Carrier specializes in weightloss for women and in working with women who “hate to workout”. Schedules and client testimonials are available at www.BootCampRocks.com. Carrier, a certified fitness boot camp instructor with 14 years of experience in the fitness industry, can be reached at John@BootCampRocks.com or 727- 420 – 8139.
# # #
About Kevin Carrier, Fitness Expert:
Carrier, a certified fitness boot camp instructor with 14 years of experience in the fitness industry, can be reached at John@BootCampRocks.com or 727- 420 – 8139 and is available for media interviews on a wide range of topics related to health, wellness and fitness.