Everyone has a blood pressure, which is need to help pump blood around the body. Having high blood pressure means that you heart has to work harder to pump blood. This increases the risks of adverse effects.
Blood Pressure is represented by two numbers (eg 120/80), expressed as millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The first number (eg 120) represents systolic blood pressure. – the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. The second number (eg 80) is the diastolic pressure – the peak pressure when your heart rests between beats. Both numbers are important.
Your blood pressure can go up or down throughout the day depending on how busy or worried you are, your level of physical activity and the amount of caffeine, alcohol or tobacco you have. Also your general state of health can affect your blood pressure. It means that when measuring blood pressure, more than one reading needs to be taken, especially if that reading is indicates a higher blood pressure than normal.
People are considered to have high blood pressure (hypertension) when repeated measurement shows their blood pressure is raised above a certain level and stays at higher levels (greater than 140mmHg for systolic or greater than 95mmHG for diastolic, or both) even when they are relaxed and sitting quietly.
Having high blood pressure means your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body. This increases the risk of adverse effects.
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Some people may experience warning signs (symptoms). Usually there are no symptoms and you may feel well – until damage occurs.
The only way of knowing that you have high blood pressure is to have it measured by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist, and monitored on a regular basis. How often depends on your general health and whether you have other health conditions, and on the use of medicines for bood pressure control.
Health Risks of High Blood Pressure.
You have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (heart attacks, strokes and other heart and blood vessels disease) if your blood pressure always stays high. By not taking action to lower it, blood vessels and organ damage can occur, such as:
Brain – leading to stroke
Eyes – leading to blindness
Heart – resulting in heart attack and heart failure (the heart has to work harder to pump blood against the higher pressure so it gets larger, exhausted and fails).
Kidneys – leading to kidney failure, dialysis and kidney transplant.
You have even greater risk of cardiovascular disease if, in addition to having high blood pressure you:
Have a diet that is not heart-healthy.
Are physically inactive – i.e. you do less than two and a half hours per week of moderate physical activity.
Are overweight
Smoke
Have high cholesterol
Have high blood glucose or Type 2 Diabetes.
Your doctor can asses your overall risk, find out the reasons why you have raised blood pressure (sometimes there is no clear cause) and advise you on the best course of action. These may include treatment and lifestyle changes.
Lowering High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure must be controlled and reduced, to prevent serious long term complications. Simple SELF CARE lifestyle measures are important for and treating, high blood pressure. For some people, these measures are all that is needed but for others, in addition to lifestyle measures, they have to take medicines.
Self Care
Maintain an ideal bodyweight. Learn how to calculate your body mass index to see how close you are to your ideal body weight.
Follow a heart healthy diet. Eat foods low in fat and cholesterol, trim the fat off meat, and eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and whole grain foods.
Eat foods low in salt and sugar. That means cutting down on chips, processed meats, cured/smoked products, fast foods and sweet bakery items.
Read food labels and choose low salt and sugar alternatives. Avoid adding salt when cooking.
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