Hypertension/high blood pressure(BP)

February 19, 2010 RENU

Blood pressure is the force/pressure of blood against artery walls.
If have high BP, heart has to work harder than it needs to send blood throughout the body.
It has no symptoms that you can feel, but increases chances of having stroke, heart attack, & kidney disease.
Good news is, you can make changes to lower it, like eating right, doing exercise, taking medications if need to.
Adult levels in mmHg(millimeters of mercury): Normal systolic- 119 or less, diastolic- 79 or less. Prehypertension systolic- 120-139, diastolic- 80-89. Hypertension systolic- 140 or higher, diastolic- 90 or higher. If have diabetes/chronic kidney disease, systolic- 130 or higer, diastolic – 80 or higher.
Systolic pressure is the force of blood against arteries when heart is sending blood to body & diastolic is when heart relaxes between beats. Both numbers are important. Keep a blood pressure monitor at home.
Obesity, alcohol, family history, eating too much salt, getting older, stress may cause hypertension.
For stress, consider walking, dancing, tai chi, yoga, or meditation.
Eat whole grains, vegetables, fruits, low fat milk products, lean meat & beans.