Roughly one out of three American adults are suffering from high blood pressure - yet don't know it because they don't have any symptoms. During May, the Miller County Health Department is observing National High Blood Pressure Month by making residents aware of the silent killer and what they can do to combat it.

"High blood pressure is the 'silent killer' because most people have no symptoms until they suffer a complication, such as heart attack or stroke," explained Miller County Health Department Director Alida Ward. "The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked."

People can have high blood pressure for years without realizing it, setting the stage for serious complications such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure, she said.

"Southwest District Public Health and the Miller County Health Department have two powerful weapons in our battle against high blood pressure. One is our Hooked on Health workplace initiative, and the other is SHAPP, Georgia's Stroke and Heart Attack Prevention Program," Ward said.

Hooked on Health is a workplace wellness initiative that emphasizes fivehealthy lifestyle behaviors: smoking cessation, stress reduction, healthy eating, being active and getting screened. It uses a custom-made computer program to allow users to join a supportive community, select wellness activities and goals, monitor their personal progress and access health-related educational materials.

"It costs nothing to participate, and the payoff is increased productivity and good health," said Ward. "To learn more about

Hooked on Health, simply visit our District Web Site, www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth. org, go to the pulldown menu at the top of the page and click on Hooked on Health."

SHAPP fights high blood pressure by providing awareness, education, screening, counseling on lifestyle changes, treatment and monitoring for low-income, uninsured Georgians. Miller County residents can participate through the health department, Ward said.

"This program saves both lives and taxpayers' money," she said.

To learn more about Hooked on Health, SHAPP or other health-related issues, contact the Miller County Health Department or visit the District Web Site.