What is it blood pressure?
Blood pressure is simply the force with which our hearts pump blood throughout our bodies.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure (also called “hypertension”) is when our hearts pump blood at unhealthy, accelerated levels causing extra pressure on the artery walls.
Who gets high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can occur in children or adults, but it’s more common among people over age 35. It is seen more often among:
- African-Americans
- Middle-aged and elderly people
- Obese people
- Heavy drinkers
- Women who take birth control pills
- People who have diabetes mellitus, gout or kidney disease
It may run in families, but many people with a strong family history of high blood pressure never get it.
What are normal blood pressure levels?
Normal blood pressure levels are:
First Number (systolic): less than 120
Second Number (diastolic): Less than 80
A more common way to say it is "below 120 over 80" or you may see it written as "below 120/80."
How is blood pressure checked?
Have you ever been to see your doctor and they had someone put a cuff on your arm, inflate it and listen? If you have, then you’ve had your blood pressure checked.
Here is exactly what happens when your blood pressure is checked:
Step1: Squeezing. That instrument wrapped around your arm is called a "sphygmomanometer." This oddly named tool squeezes your arm for just long enough to stop the blood flow. Then, the pressure is released.
Step 2: Listening. The person measuring the blood pressure listens with a stethoscope. When the blood starts to flow again it makes a sound. The person listens and watches a gauge, and then records the measurements.
Step 3: Recording. The first number recorded is the pressure of the blood flow when the heart beats. This is called “systolic pressure.” The second number recorded is the pressure between the heart beats. This is called “diastolic” pressure.”
Step 4: Decision. Both numbers recorded during the blood pressure check are important. Health care providers can tell if we have high blood pressure or not.
Is high blood pressure dangerous?
Having high blood pressure is dangerous because it directly increases the risk of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. High blood pressure is even more dangerous if an individual also has some of the other risk factors for heart disease and stroke.
What are the symptoms of high blood pressure?
High blood pressure has no symptoms. One in four adults has high blood pressure, and nearly one-third of them don’t know they have it. If you haven’t had your blood pressure checked in a while, make an appointment now.
What can I do to reduce my risk of high blood pressure?
We don’t know why all cases of high blood pressure occur, but we do know of several things that may lead to high blood pressure and put us at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. These include:
- Obesity. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
- Salt. Eating too much salt has been shown to increase blood pressure in some people.
- Alcohol. Beware of drinking too much alcohol. Heavy and regular use of alcohol can increase blood pressure dramatically.
- Lack of physical activity. An inactive lifestyle makes it easier to become overweight and increases the chance of high blood pressure.
- Stress. This is often listed as a risk factor, but stress levels are hard to measure, and people have different responses to stress.
There are just some things that you can’t control. But by doing the things you can to reduce risks, you’ll be ahead of the game.
The Top Ten Reasons to Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers
- High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart disease and the #1 cause of strokes.
- High blood pressure makes your heart work harder to get blood to your organs.
- With ongoing high blood pressure your organs don’t get enough oxygen to function the way they should.
- People with high blood pressure often feel fine, which is why it is called “the silent killer”.
- In addition to increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke, high blood pressure increases your risk of kidney failure, eye damage, congestive heart failure, vascular dementia and more.
- Blood pressure is quickly, easily and inexpensively measured. It should be recorded every time you see a health provider, and you should ask what it is and what that means.
- If you know your numbers and what they mean, there are simple things you can do to either prevent high blood pressure from developing, or to lower your blood pressure if it is higher than normal (less than 120/80).
- If your blood pressure numbers are 140/90 or higher – you should ask your health care provider for advice on controlling your hypertension (high blood pressure).
- There are many medications for controlling high blood pressure, and recent studies have shown that some of the older, less expensive drugs are very effective for many people.
- You can take charge of you health – and your life – by knowing two numbers for blood pressure – and what they mean!
The Blood Pressure Goal for most people is less than 120 over 80.
Source: http://www.startwithyourheart.com/BloodHome.html
NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Branch