National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week (NWBPAW)

National Women’s Blood Pressure Awareness Week (NWBPAW) is a weeklong observance led by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office on Women’s Health (OWH). The observance, which will take place October 11-17, 2020 will highlight the importance of blood pressure control and monitoring among all women, with an emphasis on women ages 18-44. NWBPAW will empower women to take control of their health by sharing everyday actions they can take to maintain a healthy blood pressure and improve their overall heart health.

Thursday

Develop Healthy Heart Habits to Lower Blood Pressure

Many factors increase the risk of high blood pressure. Some risk factors, such as unhealthy lifestyle habits, can be changed. Other risk factors, such as age, family history and genetics, race and ethnicity, and sex, cannot be changed. A healthy lifestyle can lower your risk for developing high blood pressure.

Here are some steps you can take:

Eat a Healthy Diet
Maintain a Healthy Weight
Be Physically Active
Stop Smoking
Limit Alcohol Consumption
Get Enough Sleep

Find out more about controlling blood pressure.

Friday

Community Resources & Success Stories

For most women, high pressure can be controlled with lifestyle changes. Resources are available to help you develop a heart plan to lower and maintain a healthy blood pressure. Your health care provider and local health department may have resources that you can use; here are a few more to help you on your journey to a healthier heart.

Heart Disease and Stroke https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-disease-and-stroke

Healthy Living by Age https://www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-living-age

Heart Disease Risk Factors https://www.womenshealth.gov/heart-disease-and-stroke/heart-disease/heart-disease-risk-factors

Getting Active https://www.womenshealth.gov/getting-active

Healthy Eating https://www.womenshealth.gov/healthy-eating

Million Hearts https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-pressure

American Heart Association https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure (link is external)

Saturday

Sharing What Works: Personal Stories

Your personal story can help others take action to improve their heart health. As you work to meet your heart health goals, share what you are doing to motivate others. Your story may save lives.