Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Calvert County Health Department Cardiovascular Health

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

UNDERSTANDING YOURUNDERSTANDING YOURBLOOD PRESSUREBLOOD PRESSURE

Calvert County Health DepartmentCalvert County Health DepartmentCardiovascular Health and NutritionCardiovascular Health and Nutrition

410-535-5400/301-855-1353410-535-5400/301-855-1353Fax: 410-535-1955Fax: 410-535-1955

Created by Mary Ann Gallo 2004Created by Mary Ann Gallo 2004


NEW RESEARCH STATES…NEW RESEARCH STATES…

So…high blood pressure is a condition that most people So…high blood pressure is a condition that most people will have at some point in their lives.will have at some point in their lives.

that at age 55 or older, those who do not have that at age 55 or older, those who do not have high blood pressure have a 90% chance of high blood pressure have a 90% chance of developing it during their lifetimes.developing it during their lifetimes.

1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure

““Silent Killer”Silent Killer”65 million adults have high blood pressure in this country.65 million adults have high blood pressure in this country.

What Is Blood Pressure?What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressureBlood pressure is is the force of blood the force of blood pushing against pushing against

the arteries.the arteries.

Blood is carried to Blood is carried to all parts of your all parts of your body in vessels body in vessels called arteries.called arteries.


Each time the heart beats Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a (about 60-70 times a

minute at rest), it pumps minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. out blood into the arteries.

What Is Blood Pressure?What Is Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure is at Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood.beats, pumping the blood.

When the heart is When the heart is at rest, between at rest, between

beats, your blood beats, your blood pressure falls.pressure falls.

Your blood pressure is always given as these two numbers Your blood pressure is always given as these two numbers with one above or before the other.with one above or before the other.

This is called This is called SYSTOLICSYSTOLIC pressure. pressure.120/120/To

p

num

ber

8080This is calledThis is called DIASTOLIC DIASTOLIC pressure.pressure.

Bottom number

http://www.hsfpe.org/


CategoryCategorySystolicSystolic

(Top Number)(Top Number)

DiastolicDiastolic

(Bottom Number)(Bottom Number)

NormalNormal Less than 120Less than 120 Less than 80Less than 80

What Is Normal Blood Pressure?What Is Normal Blood Pressure?

““Normal” blood pressure is when both Normal” blood pressure is when both numbers arenumbers are lower lower than 120/80. than 120/80.


““Prehypertension”Prehypertension”

This category was created to alert people to their risk of developing This category was created to alert people to their risk of developing high blood pressure so they could make lifestyle changes that may high blood pressure so they could make lifestyle changes that may

help to avoid developing this condition.help to avoid developing this condition.

Which of the Which of the following blood following blood

pressure readings are pressure readings are considered considered

“prehypertensive”?“prehypertensive”?

80-8980-89120-139120-139PrehypertensionPrehypertension

138/82138/82 128/89128/89118/78118/78

Top NumberTop Number Bottom NumberBottom Number

NEW!!!

NEW!!!


If your blood pressure is in the prehypertensive range:If your blood pressure is in the prehypertensive range:

It means that you don’t have high blood pressure now, but you are It means that you don’t have high blood pressure now, but you are likely to develop it in the future.likely to develop it in the future.

Unless you take Unless you take ACTIONACTION to prevent it! to prevent it!

““Prehypertension”Prehypertension”

PrehypertensionPrehypertension 120-139120-139 80-8980-89


What Is High Blood Pressure?What Is High Blood Pressure?When blood pressure stays elevated over a long period of When blood pressure stays elevated over a long period of time it is called time it is called high bloodhigh blood pressure or “ pressure or “hypertensionhypertension”.”.

High blood pressure is dangerous because it High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes makes the heart work too hard and contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

http://diseases-explained.com/


What Is High Blood Pressure?What Is High Blood Pressure?

A blood pressure of A blood pressure of 140/90140/90 is considered high blood pressure. is considered high blood pressure.

High Blood PressureHigh Blood Pressure SystolicSystolic DiastolicDiastolic

Stage 1Stage 1 140-159140-159 90-9990-99

Stage 2Stage 2 160 or higher160 or higher 100 or higher100 or higher

““Hypertension”Hypertension”


High Blood PressureHigh Blood Pressure

Warning Signs:Warning Signs:

1.2.3.4.““Silent Killer”

Silent Killer”

““Silent Killer”

Silent Killer”


Why Is High Blood Pressure Important?Why Is High Blood Pressure Important?

Increases your risk for :Increases your risk for :

Heart disease & StrokeHeart disease & Stroke – –Heart disease & StrokeHeart disease & Stroke – – the the 1st1st and and 3rd3rd leading causes of leading causes of death for Americans.death for Americans.

the the 1st1st and and 3rd3rd leading causes of leading causes of death for Americans.death for Americans.

If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause:If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause:

Heart failureHeart failure

Heart AttackHeart Attack

Kidney diseaseKidney disease

BlindnessBlindness


What can high blood pressure do to your body?What can high blood pressure do to your body?

Heart AttackHeart Attack

High blood pressure is a High blood pressure is a major risk factor for major risk factor for

heart attack. The heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart muscle. If the

heart cannot get enough heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, can oxygen, chest pain, can

occur. If the flow of occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart blood is blocked, a heart

attack results.attack results.

BlindnessBlindnessHigh blood pressure can High blood pressure can eventually cause blood eventually cause blood

vessels in the eye to burst or vessels in the eye to burst or bleed. Vision may become bleed. Vision may become

blurred or otherwise impaired blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness.and can result in blindness.

Kidney diseaseKidney diseaseKidneys act as filters to Kidneys act as filters to rid the body of waste. rid the body of waste.

High blood pressure can High blood pressure can narrow and thicken the narrow and thicken the

blood vessels of the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys kidneys. The kidneys

filter less fluid and waste filter less fluid and waste builds up in the blood. builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail The kidneys may fail

altogether.altogether.

High blood pressure is the most High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of

the narrowed arteries, it can also the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke. cause a stroke.

StrokeStroke

As people get older, As people get older, arteries throughout the arteries throughout the

body "harden," body "harden," especially those in the especially those in the

heart, brain, and heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood kidneys. High blood

pressure is associated pressure is associated with these "stiffer" with these "stiffer"

arteries. This, in turn, arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and causes the heart and

kidneys to work harder.kidneys to work harder.

ArteriesArteries

Heart failureHeart failure

The heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's

needs.


The Good News is…The Good News is…You can take action to prevent getting high blood pressure You can take action to prevent getting high blood pressure

or take steps to control it!or take steps to control it!

See your doctor for regular blood pressure check upsSee your doctor for regular blood pressure check ups

Maintaining a healthy weightMaintaining a healthy weight

Get physically activeGet physically active

Eat a healthy diet rich in Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and low vegetables and fruits, and low fat dairy foodsfat dairy foodsChoose and prepare foods with less saltChoose and prepare foods with less salt

If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderationin moderation

If you smoke, think about quittingIf you smoke, think about quitting


1. GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.1. GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.

2. EAT HEALTHY FOODS.2. EAT HEALTHY FOODS.

3. GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE.3. GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE.

Our heart health depends on it! Our heart health depends on it!

Understanding Your Blood PressureUnderstanding Your Blood Pressure


Documents

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE Calvert County Health Department Cardiovascular Health