Health Tip

Basic Information about Hypertension


        According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, an estimated 50 million Americans have hypertension, or high blood pressure. Hypertension is often called the silent killer because it may not cause symptoms until damage has already occurred. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder and increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. It can result in other conditions, such as congestive heart failure, kidney disease, blindness, and dementia.
       Many people who have high blood pressure look healthy and feel fine. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checked. Blood pressure is measured with a devise called a sphygmomanometer and is determined by the size of the blood vessels and the force at which the blood is pumped through them.
       A blood pressure reading has two parts. The top number, or systolic pressure, is the pressure exerted on your arteries when your heart is pumping. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, is the pressure when your heart is resting.
Blood pressure rises and falls during the day. You have high blood pressure if the top number is 140 mmHg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mmHg or higher consistently. New guidelines from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute classify normal blood pressure as below 120/80 mmHg and readings between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg as pre- hypertensive. Individuals with prehypertension are likely to develop high blood pressure in the future.
       When you are young and healthy, your blood vessels are fairly elastic. As you age, artery walls normally become more rigid and less elastic. Consequently, blood pressure tends to increase as you get older. Some causes of hypertension are not age-related, including pregnancy, certain drugs, hyperthyroidism, brain tumors, and over production of hormones by the adrenal glands.
       Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are important. For people who are 50 years of age and older, systolic pressure gives the most accurate diagnosis of high blood pressure. While it cannot be cured once it has developed, a high systolic blood pressure can be controlled. Studies have proven that treating a high systolic blood pressure saves lives, greatly reduces illness, and improves the qualify of life. The diastolic blood pressure, especially for young people, remains important. As people become older, the diastolic pressure tends to decrease and the systolic blood pressure begins to rise.
Your physician will use both numbers to determine your blood pressure category and appropriate prevention and treatment options.

You are more likely to have high blood pressure if:

• You are male.
• You are African-American.
• You are more than 35 years old.
• Your family members have high blood pressure.
• You exercise very little.
• You are overweight.
• You eat a lot of salty foods.
• You have more than two alcoholic drinks a day.
• You take birth control pills.
• You forget to take your blood pressure medicine.

Measures to Lower Your Blood Pressure
       Here are some measures you can take to help reduce your blood pressure:

• Lose excess weight. Losing weight, even losing just 10 pounds, can lower your blood pressure. Follow a diet lower in saturated fats and cholesterol and add more low-fat dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Use less fat or oil when cooking. Try to bake, broil, or steam your foods instead of frying them.
• Restrict your sodium intake. Sometimes eating less salt may lower your blood pressure. The typical American eats about twice the daily recommendation of 2,400 milligrams of sodium. One way to reduce sodium in your diet is to reduce the amount of processed foods that you eat. Fresh vegetables have less salt than canned vegetables. In place of salt, you can use herbs and spices.
• Exercise. Exercise may lower your blood pressure and can help you lose weight too. Thirty minutes of brisk aerobic exercise on most days of the week is best. Chose an activity that you like and do it consistently. Find a buddy to join you so you will be less likely to quit. Walking is an exercise that most people can do. Always check with your doctor before beginning an exercise plan.
• Drink alcohol in moderation. If you are an average size man, two drinks a day should be the limit. If you are a woman or a lightweight man, one drink is the limit. One drink equals one, 12-ounce beer, five ounces of wine, or one ounce of hard liquor.
• Take blood pressure medicine as directed by your physician. If you are prescribed medicine to lower your blood pressure, plan to take your medicine at the same time every day. Tell your doctor right away if the medicine makes you sick or feel strange. Before you use your last pill, get a new supply. Be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly.