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Why is blood pressure important
Everybody has - and needs - blood pressure. Without it, blood can't circulate through your body. And without circulating blood, your vital organs can't get the oxygen and food they need to work. That's why it's important to know about blood pressure - and how to keep it in the proper range. When your heart beats, it pumps blood into your arteries and creates pressure in them. This pressure (blood pressure) causes your blood to flow to all parts of your body.
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure of 120-139/80-89 is considered "prehypertension." If you're an adult and your blood pressure is 140/90 mm Hg or higher, you have high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or kidney disease, your doctor will want your blood pressure to be lower than 130/80 mm Hg. If your blood pressure goes above this threshold and stays there, you have high blood pressure.
Source: Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention. Detection Evaluation, and Treatment ol High Blood Pressure (JNC 7 Complete report) Hypertension 2003:42:1206. Your doctor may take several readings over time before making a judgment about high blood pressure. What causes high blood pressure? High blood pressure, also called hypertension, isn't nervous tension. People who have high blood pressure don't have to be tense, compulsive or nervous. In fact, you can have high blood pressure and not know it. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. That's why it's called the "silent killer." About 90-95 percent of the cases of high blood pressure have no known cause. But some factors increase your chances of developing this disease. These are called risk factors. Risk factors you can control
o Obesity - People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure. Click for an easy BMI calculator.
o Race - African Americans develop high blood pressure more often than Caucasians do, and it tends to occur earlier and be more severe.
Can you tell when your blood pressure is high?
No, definitely not. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. In fact, many people have it for years without knowing it. That's why it's so dangerous.
The only way to find out if you have this disease is to have your blood pressure measured. Your doctor or another health professional can check it for you. See the chart on pages 2-3 to see where your blood pressure falls.
Can high blood pressure damage your body?
Yes! It can hurt your body in many ways. Mainly it adds to the workload of your heart and arteries. Because your heart must work harder than normal for a long time, it tends to get bigger. A slightly enlarged heart may still work well, but if it's enlarged very much, it may have a hard time meeting your body's demands.
o three times more likely to develop coronary
heart disease.
If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor's advice. Most high blood pressure can't be cured, but it usually can be controlled. And its effects can be prevented or reduced - if it's treated and controlled early, and kept under control.
What can be done about high blood pressure?
Most treatments for high blood pressure rely on some combination of losing weight, diet. regular physical activity and medication. Here's a brief discussion of each option:
Diet
Weight Reduction
If you're given a diet, follow it closely, including advice about reducing how much alcohol you drink. Alcoholic drinks are low in nutrients and high in calories, so if you're trying to lose weight, avoid them.
Sometimes eating less sodium can help lower blood pressure. If this might help you, your doctor will recommend a low-salt diet. This means you'll have to...
o Avoid salty foods.
o Cut down on how much salt you use in cooking and at the table.
o Start reading package labels regularly to learn about the sodium content of prepared foods.
Most Americans eat much more salt than they need. By experimenting with herbs and spices a seasonings, you can still enjoy tasty meals.
Don't make major changes in your diet without first getting proper medical advice. And once a diet has been prescribed for you, stick to it.
Physical Activity
Your doctor can suggest the best kind of exercise program for you. Whatever physical activity you enjoy and do regularly will probably be just Fine. A minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity on most days of the week is recommended.
Medication
Medicines lower high blood pressure in most cases. But every person reacts differently to medication. You may need a trial period before your doctor finds the best medicine for you.
Know these important points about any prescribed medication:
o the name of the medication
o what it's supposed to do
o how often to take it
o how much to take
o how long to take it
o how to store it (Does the medicine need to be in a cool place?)
o if there's a specific time of day it should be taken
o if you need to avoid foods, drinks, other medications or activities while on the drug
o what results, reactions or side effects you might expect from the medication, and what to do if you have reactions or side effects
o if there's any written information to help you remember key points about the drug
o if the medication can cause side effects if you become pregnant
o what to do if you get sick from something else or have to go to the hospital
Know the names and effects of all other medications you're taking, and tell your doctor about them.
How can you help yourself?
It takes a team to treat your high blood pressure successfully. Your doctor can't do it alone, and neither can you. You've got to work together.
Even so, you can do more than anyone else to bring your blood pressure under control - and keep it there.
You can help yourself if you...
1. Keep appointments with your doctor. This will help everyone monitor your blood pressure program and make any adjustments to keep your blood pressure under control.
2. Take prescribed blood pressure drugs as directed. If you don't feel well after taking a medication, tell your doctor how you feel. This will help your doctor adjust your treatment so you won't have unpleasant side effects.
3. Follow medical advice about diet and physical activity. Make an effort to lose weight if it's recommended. Make changes in your general health habits if you need to.
4. Remind yourself that as long as you and your team of health advisors work together, you can control your blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. Once you begin to manage it and start a treatment program, maintaining a lower blood pressure is easier. By controlling your high blood pressure, you'll lower your risk of diseases like stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.
You can do it!
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