Blood pressure, high cholesterol, artery blockage, heart disease, and hypertension are issues affecting a huge portion of American society. Today, I'll answer some simple, introductory questions about blood pressure issues. Remember to consult with your physician about your blood pressure and general health concerns.
What is high blood pressure?
Arteries are like hoses carrying blood from your heart to the rest of your body. If you put a crimp in a hose, pressure builds up inside it – the same thing happens to blocked arteries. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than what is optimal.
What do the numbers mean?
Blood pressure is two measurements – separated by a slash when written – such as 120/80. You may also hear someone use the terminology “120 over 80.” The first number is the
systolic blood pressure. This is the peak blood pressure when your heart is pumping blood out. The second number is the
diastolic blood pressure – the pressure when your heart is filling with blood and relaxing between beats.
Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have what is called pre-hypertension, which means it is at risk to turn into high blood pressure.
How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure is measured by placing a cuff around your arm, inflating the cuff and listening for the flow of blood. Your doctor will measure your blood pressure to see if you have high blood pressure, and determine a course of action.
How often should I have my blood pressure checked?
After age 18, have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Do it more often than that if you have had high blood pressure in the past.
What problems does high blood pressure cause?
Both high blood pressure and pre-hypertension damage your blood vessels. This in turn raises your risk of stroke, kidney failure, heart disease and heart attack.
Does it have any symptoms?
Not usually. This is why it’s important to have blood pressure checked regularly.
How is it treated?
Treatment begins with lifestyle changes to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease. These changes include better nutrition, limiting your sodium and caffeine intakes, increased exercise, stress management tools, and more. If these changes don’t work, you may also need to take medicine to assist in lowering blood pressure.
How do tobacco products affect blood pressure?
The nicotine in cigarettes and other tobacco products causes your blood vessels to constrict and your heart to beat faster, temporarily raising your blood pressure. If you quit smoking or using other tobacco products, you can significantly lower your risk of heart disease and heart attack, as well as help lower your blood pressure.
Is sodium really off limits?
Not everyone is affected by sodium, but sodium can increase blood pressure in many people. Most Americans with healthy blood pressure should limit the sodium in their diet to 2,300 mg per day. Other groups, such as older Americans and people with high blood pressure should limit the sodium in their diet to 1,500 mg per day. Your doctor may tell you to limit your sodium even more.
Don’t add salt to your food. Check food labels for sodium. While some foods obviously have a lot of sodium, such as potato chips, you may not realize how much sodium is in food like bread, canned vegetables, soups and cheese. Also be aware that some medicines contain sodium.
Does stress affect my blood pressure?
Stress may affect blood pressure, especially in cases where you get less than an optimal amount of sleep. To help combat the effects of stress, try relaxation techniques or biofeedback. These things work best when used at least once a day. Ask your family doctor for advice.
What about medicine?
Many different types of medicine can be used to treat high blood pressure; these are called antihypertensive medicines. The goal of treatment is to reduce your blood pressure to normal levels with medicine that’s easy to take and has few, if any, side effects. This goal can almost always be met.
If your blood pressure can only be controlled with medicine, you’ll need to take it for the rest of your life. You may need to take more than one medicine to help control your blood pressure. Don’t stop taking the medicine without talking with your doctor or you may increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Remember to consult your doctor with all blood pressure and hypertension needs.
About The Author: Bobby DeMuro is the Founder of
FusionSouth, a personal training/sports conditioning firm in Charlotte, NC. He is also the Executive Director of
NoFizz Charlotte, a non-profit dedicated to bringing awareness on the importance of proper hydration. He resides on Lake Norman with his 2-year old boxer, Dakota.
