Are you living with high blood pressure?

It's normal for blood pressure to go up and down every now and then, but prolonged high blood pressure can increase your risk of stroke or heart attack.

Ask your primary care physician (PCP) to recommend what your blood pressure should be and make it a goal to keep your blood pressure in check. It is important that you work towards this goal all year long.

Here are some helpful tips to help you maintain healthy blood pressure based on clinical guidelines:

• Stay at a healthy weight. If you are overweight, speak with your PCP about losing weight to lower your blood pressure.
• Cut back on sodium in your diet. Try to consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) a day or whatever your PCP recommends.
• Be active. Try to add moderate activity to your daily regimen.
• Temper daily alcohol intake as it can raise your blood pressure.

You can check your blood pressure at home.

Your Capital Blue Cross Medicare Advantage plan includes a monthly Over-the- Counter (OTC) Drug and Supply Allowance benefit.

You can use your monthly allowance to purchase OTC health and wellness products – including home monitoring devices like blood pressure cuffs! If you have questions about your OTC benefit, please call Nations OTC at 877.240.8232 (TTY: 711) or visit the NationsBenefits website.