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What does "Blood Pressure" Mean?
Each time your heartbeats it creates a force or pressure which pushes blood through your arteries to all parts of the body. Two numbers are reported in measuring your blood pressure. The first number is known as the systolic blood pressure and represents the pressure when your heart is at work. The bottom number is known as the diastolic blood pressure and represents the pressure when your heart is at rest. When someone takes your blood pressure, both numbers are measured. Example: "120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic)."
Systolic pressure tells the maximum amount of pressure exerted on your arteries. Diastolic pressure tells the minimum pressure on your arteries. Higher numbers indicate greater strain on your heart and arteries. Blood pressure falls within a range. No precise numbers are defined as normal as your blood pressure will vary throughout the day.
What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Researchers have learned that certain factors increase the chance that you will develop high blood pressure. Un-modifiable factors include age and heredity. Modifiable factors that may lead to high blood pressure include smoking, being overweight, dietary habits, and lack of regular physical activity. How do you know if your blood pressure is high? Have it checked regularly by a health professional. If it consistently measures greater than 140 systolic or 90 diastolic, your blood pressure is considered to be hypertensive. Under new guidelines, if your blood pressure is consistently greater than 120 systolic or 80 diastolic, it would be considered pre-hypertensive. Pre-hypertensive individuals should initiate health-promoting lifestyle modifications (listed above) to prevent cardiovascular disease. In either case, it is important to see your Doctor.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) increases the workload on your heart and the stress on your arteries. It can cause your heart to become enlarged and your arteries to harden. It might also damage your kidneys, cause heart attack, stroke or other related diseases. High blood pressure is a serious matter that you should work with your Doctor to address.
How Can I Help Keep My Blood Pressure Down?
Some combinations of diet, exercise, smoking cessation and medication (if prescribed by your Doctor) can control high blood pressure. Once you are told that your blood pressure is high, you should have it checked regularly. If your Doctor prescribes blood pressure medication, take it as directed, and do not discontinue the medication unless instructed to do so by your Doctor.
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