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Tips for People with High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure (BP) measures the pressure at which your heart pumps blood through your blood vessels. Blood pressure rises when there is resistance to blood flow. Prolonged and untreated high blood pressure increases the risk of heart failure, stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease.
How do you find out if you have high blood pressure?
The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked. Generally, you do not feel any symptoms if your blood pressure is high. Usually, it takes three high readings for your doctor to diagnose high blood pressure.
Can high blood pressure be cured?
High blood pressure has no cure, but can be treated. However, you can keep your blood pressure lower by taking the medication your doctor orders. It also helps to eat healthily, and lose weight. Even a 10lb. weight loss can lower your blood pressure. Each extra pound of weight creates six miles of blood vessels for your heart to pump against. So, if you lose 10 lbs., you will "erase" 60 miles of vessels.
What increases risk for high blood pressure?
- Family history of high BP
- Age
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Lack of exercise
- Afro-Americans are at very high risk to develop high blood pressure
- Hispanics are the ethnic group with the highest rate of high blood pressure
What is a normal blood pressure?
Systolic BP (Top number) lower than 130mmHg
Diastolic BP (Bottom number) lower than 80-85mmHg
The systolic BP measures BP when the heart pumps, and the diastolic BP measures BP when the heart relaxes.
How can I keep my blood pressure low?
See your doctor to have your blood pressure measured.
If you do have high blood pressure:
- See your doctor regularly.
- Take all medication that your doctor orders for high BP, even if you feel fine. Call your doctor if you are bothered by any side effects of your medication. There may be another choice of medication that works better for you.
- Lose weight.
- Stop smoking.
- Exercise aerobically at least three times a week for 20 minutes; walking is a safe aerobic exercise.
- Lower your intake of cholesterol and saturated fats.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink.
- Try meditation, deep breathing, visualization, or other ways to cope with stress. Remember, even if you feel fine, you can still have high blood pressure.
Follow these tips to keep your blood pressure low, and enjoy a full active life!
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