| GLOSSARY
Aneurysms:
Small blister-like outpouchings of blood vessel walls.
They can rupture, causing bleeding.
Blood
Pressure:
Pressure of blood against artery walls. Recorded as
two numbers: systolic before or over diastolic.
- Systolic:
maximum pressure in the artery produced as the heart
contracts and blood begins to flow.
-
Diastolic:
minimum pressure that remains within the artery when
the heart is at rest.
Cardiovascular:
Term that describes the heart and blood vessels.
Cholesterol:
A waxy substance produced by the body and taken in with
food. The body needs cholesterol for functions such
as making hormones. When too much cholesterol circulates
in the blood, it speeds arteriosclerosis, or "hardening
of the arteries."
Generic
Drug:
A medicine that has the same active drug as a trademarked
brand-named version. Generic drugs usually cost less
than their brand-name versions.
Hypertension:
The medical term for high blood pressure.
mm
Hg:
Abbreviation for millimeters of mercury. It is used
to express measures of blood pressure. It refers to
the height to which the pressure in your blood vessels
would push a column of mercury.
Potassium:
A mineral in the body’s cells necessary for maintaining
fluid balance. Good sources of potassium are bananas
and orange juice. "Salt substitutes" usually contain
potassium.
Salt:
Common
table salt or sodium chloride.
Sodium:
A mineral that can contribute to high blood pressure
in some people. It is found in baking soda, some antacids,
the food preservative MSG (monosodium glutamate), among
other items.
Sphygmomanometer:
A device used to measure blood pressure.
Stroke:
Sudden loss of function of part of the brain because
of loss of blood flow. Stroke may be caused by a clot
(thrombosis) or rupture (hemorrhage) of a blood vessel
to the brain.
Vascular:
A term to describe blood vessels.
|
Blood
Pressure Categories for Adults Age 18 and Older*
|
|
| Category |
Systolic
(mmHg) |
Diastolic
(mmHg) |
| Normal |
<130 |
<85 |
| High
Normal
|
130-139
|
85-89
|
| High
Blood Pressure |
|
|
| Stage
1 |
140-159 |
90-99 |
| Stage
2 |
160-179 |
100-109 |
| Stage
3 |
180-209 |
110-119 |
| Stage
4 |
>=210 |
>=120 |
*For
those not taking medicine for high blood pressure
and not having a short term serious illness.These
categories are from the National High Blood Pressure
Education Program.
<=
less than
>= greater than or equal to
|
|
Taking
Action to Control High Blood Pressure
|
Having
high blood pressure means that you must make some
changes in your life. You'll need to do some or
all of the following:
- Lose
weight if you are overweight
- Be
more physically active
- Choose
foods lower in salt and sodium
- Limit
your alcohol intake
- Take
you high blood pressure pills.
|
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