Blood Pressure

Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the wall of your arteries. Each time the heart beats it pumps out blood into the arteries.

Blood pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and the diastolic pressures.  Both are important. The pressure when the heart beats is called the systolic pressure and is the first or top number in a blood pressure reading. The second or lower number is called the diastolic, and is the pressure between beats when the heart is at rest. Usually they are written one above or before the other such as 120/80 with 120 being the systolic and 80 being the diastolic.

Blood pressure changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

Normal blood pressure is recommended to be below 120/80. Pre-hypertension is in the range of 120-130/80-89 and hypertension is 140/90 or greater. One in four U.S. adults has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know it. This is why high blood pressure is called the "silent killer". The only way to tell if you have it is to have your blood pressure checked.

        High blood pressure adds to the workload of your heart and arteries. Your heart must pump harder, and the arteries carry blood that is moving under greater pressure. Your heart and other organs can handle increased pressure for a long time, which is why you can live for years without any symptoms or ill effects. But that doesn't mean it's not hurting you.  With high blood pressure comes an increased risk of stroke, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and heart attack. When high blood pressure is combined with obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times.

        Many Americans develop high blood pressure as they get older, but it is not part of healthy aging. There are several factors - both controllable and uncontrollable - that contribute to the risk and include:

Y       Overweight (controllable)

Y       Inactive lifestyle (controllable)

Y       Excess alcohol intake (controllable)

Y       Excess sodium intake (controllable)

Y       Stress (controllable)

Y       Family history (uncontrollable)

Y       Age (uncontrollable)

        Treating high blood pressure almost always includes making lifestyle changes to help control your risk factors. Sometimes, when lifestyle changes aren't enough to control high blood pressure, your doctor will prescribe medication.  Appropriate lifestyle changes include:

Y       Lose weight

Y       Get regular physical activity most days of the week

Y       Limit alcohol

Y       Quit smoking

Y       Manage stress

Y       Reduce sodium intake

Y       Eat for heart health, i.e., fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products

Y       Discuss with your doctor the use of some medications that affect your blood pressure (anti-histamines, oral contraceptives, etc.)

        Most high blood pressure can't be cured but it usually can be controlled. And its effects can be prevented or reduced - if it is treated and controlled early, and kept under control.  If you haven't had your blood pressure checked recently, do so!  Don't let the silent killer creep up on you.