Prior to the Super Bowl, former Super Bowl MVP Joe Montana and his doctor friend, James Rippe, toured through Atlanta spreading the word on managing high blood pressure.

It is an issue near and dear to Montana’s heart, no pun intended, because Montana was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2002 at a yearly physical. He had not had any symptoms prior to the diagnosis and was shocked to say the least.
“From one year to the next my blood pressure was elevated,” Montana stated. “I had to change my lifestyle, get on the right medication and monitor my progress closely.”

It took several months to get his high blood pressure under control and now he and his family continue to do the things to keep it that way. He and several doctors have constructed a book, “Joe Montana’s Family Playbook For Managing High Blood Pressure,” to help people who face a situation similar to his.

The book covers everything from what high blood pressure is and what it means for a person, to recipes, exercises and strategies to get it under control and keep it that way. Montana stresses that having his family involved has helped him. They eat healthier meals, stay active together and remind him to take his medicine if he has forgotten to do so.

“After football and because of injuries to my knees, I wasn’t as active as I needed to be,” Montana said. He has found ways to get more exercise over the years and urges everyone to get active as well.

He also recommends that everyone get tested for high blood pressure as well.

“It is the only way you will know if you have a problem,” Montana stated. “It is easy to get it under control once you know you have a problem.”
Montana and Dr. Rippe have toured around the country with this message for five years. The focus of this year’s tour was the family and how family members can help each other when one of them is dealing with high blood pressure.

“The national statistics for people afflicted with high blood pressure are inching up,” said Dr. Rippe, adding that one of every three adults has it and doesn’t know it. “That’s why it is important for Joe and I to get the word out. People need to get tested and if they are afflicted with high blood pressure, they need to know how to beat it.”

For more information on high blood pressure or to get a free copy of the book, visit www.getbpdown.com.

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