HYPERTENSION

OR

BLOOD
PRESSURE
 BLOOD PRESSURE

 The force created as your heart pumps blood

and moves through your blood vessels.
 Two numbers are recorded when checking
B/P
 Systolic pressure-force of blood in your vessels when your
heart pumps
 Diastolic pressure-force of the blood in your vessels in
between beats
 When is Blood Pressure too
High?
 High blood pressure is also called hypertension.
 Normal range 130/85
 High B/P = 140/90 and higher
 The higher your B/P , the higher your chance of
getting a stroke.
 Can you have Hypertension?
 Do you smoke?
 Do you have diabetes,
heart disease or kidney
disease?
 Do you weigh more than
you should?
 Are you African -American?
 Are you age 35 or older?
 Do you often eat fried,
salty or greasy foods?
 Are you under a lot of
stress?
 Do you spend a lot of time
sitting?
 Do you get little physical
activity?
 Do you have 2 or more
drinks of alcohol every
day?
 Do you often get
headaches or wake up with
a headache?
 SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

 Usually no symptoms  Tiredness

are present.  Confusion
 However if the blood  Vision changes
pressure is excessively  Crushing chest pain
high you may note the  Heart failure
following changes.  Blood in the urine
 Nosebleed
 Irregular heartbeat
 Ear noise or buzzing
 RISK FACTORS

 The following factors may contribute to an

increase in Blood Pressure:

1. Being overweight
2. Excess sodium intake
3. A lack of exercise and physical activity
 COMPLICATIONS

 Increases your chances of getting a stroke

 Damages blood vessel walls
 Weakens blood vessel walls causing them to
break and killing blood cells.
 MANAGEMENT

 Control your diet.

 Limit serving sizes.
 Maintaining a healthy weight, or losing weight if
overweight.
 Increase physical activity.
 Practicing moderation if consuming alcoholic beverages.
 Take daily medication if necessary
 Have regular blood pressure checks.
 Reduce stress
 Stop smoking
Category Systolic reading Diastolic reading Follow-up recommendation
(mmHg) (mmHg

Optimal 120 80 Recheck in two years

Normal 130 85 Recheck in 2 years

High Normal 130-139 85-89 Recheck in one year

Hypertension 140-159 90-99 Confirm within two months

Stage 1 (Mild)

Hypertension 160-179 100-109 Evaluate within one month

Stage 2
(Moderate)

Hypertension 179 109 Evaluate immediately or within one

week depending on situation
Stage 3
(Severe)
WHEN TO SEEK MEDICAL
ASSITANCE?
 Severe headache
 Excessive tiredness
 Confusion
 Visual changes
 Nausea and vomiting
 Chest pain
 Shortness of breath
 Excessive sweating
Remember Hypertension is a
Silent Killer!!!!!!!!
 Don’t wait
 Take Action Now
 Confront the Killer
 Learn the facts and
 Follow your plan
 Healthy Eating
Hypertension

 Eat a healthy and balanced diet low fat, and high in

fruits and vegetables
 Eat lots of low-fat dairy foods, whole grain products
 Reduce the amount of salt
 Have at least 3 serving a day of high potassium foods
(bananas, raisins, squash, beet, potato, tomato)
 Healthy Eating
Hypertension
 Use fresh products rather than canned,
smoked or processed foods
 Drink less alcohol – limit yourself to no
more than 1-2 drinks a day
 Practice read food labels
THE HEALTHY PLATE
 Visit your doctor
regularly
Relaxation
Check your weight

Balance intake with output

Exercise regularly
 Summary
 Eat right
 Watch your weight -even a modest drop in
weight can make a difference
 Be active - start a program of light exercise for
at least 30-45 minutes every day
 Lower your stress levels. Practice stress
reduction techniques
 Stop smoking and drinking alcohol