High Blood Pressure: General Health

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood.

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers - the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats).

The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom.

For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."

120/80 or lower is normal blood pressure
120 - 139/80 - 89 is prehypertension
140/90 or higher is high blood pressure

If this pressure rises and stays high over time, it can damage the body in many ways.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) for getting heart disease and/or kidney disease, and for having a stroke. It is especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms.

Regardless of race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure.
It is estimated that 1 in every 4 American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. You can prevent and control high blood pressure by taking action.

Treatment of High Blood Pressure

It is important to take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is blood pressure below 140/90 and lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease.

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective first step in both preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in keeping your pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add blood pressure medications.

Prevention

Maintaining a healthy weight
Being physically active
Following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and lowfat dairy foods
Choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium
If you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation
Quitting Smoking

joebert · **Site Rank:** Moderator

I was just reading an article about a relation between lack of sleep and high blood pressure.

Quote:

Adults who slept fewer hours than other study participants were significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure readings, the researchers found.

Adults who slept less were also more likely to develop high blood pressure as time passed. After five years, each hour of reduction in sleep duration was associated with a 37-percent increase in the odds of developing high blood pressure, or hypertension, according to the study findings published in the June 8 issue of the Archives of Internal Medicine.

http://health.usnews.com/articles/healt ... -time.html

Ziggy · **Site Rank:** Healthy BBF

joebert wrote:

Quote:

Adults who slept fewer hours than other study participants were significantly more likely to have higher blood pressure readings, the researchers found.

That's really great infomation to know. I really think all of us need to get at least 7 and 1/2 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

Who is online