High Blood Pressure

(aka Hypertension)
 Blood pressure is determined by the
strength of the heart contraction when
it beats, heart valve function, and blood
vessel wall tension.
 The body has mechanisms to alter or maintain blood
pressure by specialized nerve cells called baroreceptors.
 Blood Pressure
Top number (systolic)
-measures the force of blood on arteries when
the heart beats

120/80
Bottom number (diastolic)
- measures force of blood on arteries between
beats
Systolic blood pressure for healthy adults falls between 90
& 120mm of mercury. Normal diastolic blood pressure
falls between 60 & 80mm of mercury.
 3 Ways to Measure Blood
Pressure

Aneroid Monitor Finger/Wrist Monitor

Digital Monitor

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What Is High Blood Pressure?

• Blood pressure that stays elevated

– > 140/90

– > 130/80 if you already have:

• diabetes
• mild kidney disease
• heart disease
Effects of High Blood Pressure
on Your Body

Artery Damage
Effects of High Blood Pressure
on Your Body
• Hardening of the arteries
• Stroke
• Heart attack
• Kidney damage
• Blindness
 Signs and Symptoms
• Called the “silent killer” because most
people have no signs or symptoms
• Headaches, nosebleeds, and dizziness
don’t occur until blood pressure is
dangerously high
Causes of High Blood Pressure
• Often-times unknown
• Narrowing of the arteries
• Fast heart rate
• Kidney disease
• Medications
• Thyroid disease
 Who Gets High Blood Pressure?
• People who:
– are older
– are overweight
– have families
members with
high blood
pressure
 How Do You Know If You
Have High Blood Pressure?
• Have your blood pressure
checked at least every two
years
• Blood pressure varies during
the day
• At least 3 readings on
different days are needed to
diagnose high blood pressure
 Controlling Your Blood Pressure
• Lifestyle Changes
– Healthy eating plan
– Limit sodium
– Achieve a healthy
weight
– Exercise/physical
activity
• even without
weight loss
 Controlling Your Blood Pressure

• Lifestyle Changes
– Don’t smoke
– Limit alcohol
– Manage stress

* These are
good to follow
IN GENERAL!
 Follow a Healthy Eating Plan
• Eat more fruits,
vegetables, low-fat
dairy foods
• Include whole grains,
poultry, fish and nuts
• Eat less fat, red meat,
sweets and sugared
beverages
• Drink a lot of water
 Limit Sodium and Salt
Research shows that eating less sodium and salt
lowers blood pressure
• Lower your sodium intake by:
– Eating out less often
– Buying fresh, frozen or unsalted canned foods
– Choosing foods with less than 400 mg/serving
– Buying low- or reduced-sodium, or no salt added
foods
– Using less salt when cooking
– Be aware of processed foods!
 Get Enough Potassium
• Potassium helps lower blood pressure
– Helps balance the amount of sodium in your
body (BOTH needed for proper hydration)
– If you don’t get enough potassium, you can
accumulate too much sodium
• Foods high in potassium include:
– Fruits, vegetables, dairy, and fish
 Lose Weight if Overweight
• Heavier people need
more blood to supply
nutrients to the body
• Losing even 10
pounds can lower
blood pressure
• Check with your
doctor to see if this is
necessary
 Be Physically Active
• Inactivity increases your
risk of being overweight
• Heart muscles have to
work harder with each
contraction, increasing
the force on the arteries
• Walking 30 continuous
minutes a day helps
lower blood pressure
– Strive for 10,000
steps/day (~5 miles)
 Stop Smoking
• Smoking damages
blood vessel walls and
causes early hardening
of the arteries
– (remember the noodle analogy?)

• Nicotine narrows your

blood vessels and
forces your heart to
work harder
 Limit Alcohol
• Heavy drinking (3 or more
drinks/day) can damage
your heart muscle
• Cutting back to a moderate
level of drinking can lower
your blood pressure
– no more than 2 drinks a day
for men
– no more than 1 drink a day
for women
 Manage Stress
• High levels of stress
can temporarily cause
a dramatic increase in
blood pressure
• Develop relaxation
techniques to deal with
stress
 Blood Pressure Medications
• If lifestyle changes
haven’t worked, a
doctor may prescribe
medication
• Blood Pressure Rx
– diuretics
– beta-blockers
– ACE-inhibitors
– calcium channel
blockers
 Points to Remember
• Lifestyle changes that can prevent and
control high blood pressure include:
– Healthy eating - emphasizing fruits, vegetables
and low-fat dairy foods
– Choosing and preparing foods with less salt and
sodium (sodium is a preservative)
– Losing weight IF overweight
– Increasing physical activity
– Drinking in moderation if you drink alcoholic
beverages
 Tips for Accurate Use
• Same time of day
• Use the same arm
– Dominant
• Don’t measure
– immediately upon
waking up, or
– immediately after
exercising.
• Wait an hour.
 Let’s try it!
 Use your dominant arm
 Make sure arm is in resting position (relaxed)
 Cuff is around bicep with tube on top
 Cuff is tight enough to fit one finger in between cuff and
bicep
 Press the ON/OFF button
 Press START
 Stay relaxed!!
 What Does Your Blood
Pressure Reading Mean?
Normal
• Less than 120
• Less than 80
Pre-hypertension
• 120-139
• 80-89
High Blood Pressure – Stage 1
• 140-159
• 90 – 99
High Blood Pressure – Stage 2
• 160 or higher
• 100 or higher
http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/128.html
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html