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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:
- The heart
to get larger, which may lead to heart failure.
- Small
blisters (aneurysms) to form in the brain’s blood
vessels, which may cause a stroke.
- Blood
vessels in the kidney to narrow, which may cause kidney
failure.
- Arteries
throughout the body to "harden" faster, especially
those in the heart, brain, and kidneys, which can
cause a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure.
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.
What Is Blood Pressure?
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.
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.
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Blood
Pressure Categories for Adults Age 18 and Older*
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| Category |
Systolic
(mm Hg) |
Diastolic
(mm Hg) |
| Normal |
<130 |
<85 |
| High
Normal |
130-139 |
85-89 |
High
Blood Pressure
Stage 1
Stage 2
Stage 3
Stage 4
|
140-159
160-179
180-209
>= 210
|
90-99
100-109
110-119
>= 120
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*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
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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.
How
Do You Rate?
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 hbp3.asp">section
2 to see what actions can be taken to control high
blood pressure.
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. . . . . . Keeping Track Of Your Numbers .
. . . . . .
Tear off the record card on the hbp11.asp">back
cover of this booklet and keep track of
your blood pressure readings. Carry the card
with you in your wallet. This way you can write
down your readings no matter where or when they
are taken. Show it to your doctor at your next
visit.
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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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. . . . . . . . Home Blood Pressure Devices
. . . . . . . . .
Tests at home can be done with the familiar
blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope, or with
an electronic monitor, such as a digital readout
monitor. Whatever the device, it must be checked
for accuracy when you first get it and, later,
once a year. This will keep it in good working
order. Also, be sure that the person who will
use the device is trained to take blood pressure
readings. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist
can help you check the device and teach you
how to use it. You may also ask for their help
in choosing the right one for you.
Blood pressure devices can be bought at medical
products stores and in drugstores. Check your
yellow pages telephone book or with your doctor
or nurse to find a store. And above all, don’t
become a nervous "blood-pressure-taker." Testing
your blood pressure at home can be helpful if
not overdone.
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