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| Section 1 | High Blood Pressure: Treat it for Life |
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Your High Blood Pressure
As many as 50 million Americans have high blood pressure, or "hypertension," which is the medical term for it. In fact, if you have found out about your high blood pressure, you are one step ahead of many Americans. Millions don’t know they have high blood pressure.
Because high blood pressure has no warning sighs, it is often called the "silent killer." People may not find out they have it until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidney. When high blood pressure is not detected and treated, it can cause:
In fact, high blood pressure plays a role in about 700,000 deaths a year from stroke, and heart and kidney disease. The illnesses brought on by uncontrolled high blood pressure cost Americans billions of dollars each year. It’s easier and wiser to treat your high blood pressure right from the start. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mm Hg, with the top number being the systolic and the bottom 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. Throughout the day, blood pressure can vary. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same. That level should be normal, around 120/80 mm Hg. When the level stays high, 140/90 mm Hg or above, you have high blood pressure. And, with high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder and you are at an increased risk of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems. Testing for High Blood Pressure You probably found out about your high blood pressure during a visit to a clinic or doctor. Maybe you wen to a doctor for a physical exam. The doctor asked for your medical history and did some simple tests, such as urine and blood tests. And, your blood pressure was measured.
Having your pressure taken is easy. The doctor uses a device called a "sphygmomanometer." Here’s how it works: A blood pressure cuff is placed around an arm and inflated with air until blood circulation in the artery is temporarily stopped. A valve is opened and some of the air is slowly let out from the cuff, which allows the blood flow to start again. Using a stethoscope, the doctor listens to the blood flow in an artery at the inner elbow. The first sound heard is the heart as it pumps. This is the systolic pressure—the maximum pressure in the artery produced as the heart contracts and the blood begins to flow. More air is slowly released from the cuff. When the beating sound is no longer heard, the heart is at rest. The lowest pressure that remains within the artery when the heart is at rest is the diastolic pressure. Some blood pressure devices use a column of mercury or a gauge to record the systolic and diastolic sounds. Others use electronic devices or digital readouts. In these cases, the blood pressure reading appears on a small screen or is signaled in beeps, and no stethoscope is used. It’s not unusual to have your blood pressure measured more than once during your doctor or clinic visit. It is often taken twice and then averaged to get a truer picture. Also, the first time your blood pressure level appears to be high, you will probably need to have it taken again at another time to be sure that the reading is accurate. Your doctor will likely ask you to come back in a week or two in order to check your pressure again.
Do you know your blood pressure? Ask your doctor to tell you your numbers. Look at page 6 to see where your reading fits in. Blood pressure readings below 140/90 mm Hg are considered normal. If the systolic blood pressure stays at 140 mm Hg or greater, or the diastolic blood pressure stays at 90 mm Hg or greater, you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure is categorized into four stages. As blood pressure goes up, the risk of heart attack, stroke, or kidney disease increases. So taking action becomes more important. For instance, as your pressure rises from normal to Stage 1 high blood pressure, your risk of dying from heart disease or stroke doubles; as it rises to Stage 2, your risk triples. Look in section 2 to see what actions can be taken to control high blood pressure.
You may be asked to keep track of your blood pressure. There are several reasons for this. Sometimes, because blood pressure changes throughout the day, the doctor needs more readings to see your blood pressure’s range and get a better picture. Another reason is that some people become anxious when they visit a doctor and their blood pressure goes up. This is called "white coat hypertension." When your blood pressure is taken at home, you may be more at ease and thus may get a truer reading. You can keep track of your blood pressure outside of your doctor’s office by taking it at home (see below). But, there are also other ways to get your pressure tested. Many company health clinics, community health centers, and hospitals have nurses and trained professionals who often do blood pressure tests. Check with your doctor or nurse. If these tests are in the normal range most of the time, fewer checks at your doctor’s office my be required to monitor your blood pressure.
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Blood is carried from the heart to all of your body’s tissues and
organs in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the
blood pushing against the walls of those arteries. In fact, each time
the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out
blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its greatest when
the heart contracts and is pumping the blood. This is called systolic
pressure. When the heart is at rest, in between beats, your blood
pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. 