Lifestyles, Fitness

and Rehabilitation

Hypertension

Dr. Tariq Ijaz

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Lifestyles, fitness Hypertension
and rehabilitation

• What is Blood Pressure?

– Pressure created by the heart as it pumps
blood through the arteries and the circulatory
system
• What do Blood Pressure Numbers
Mean?
– Top number (Systolic)= Pressure while heart is
beating
– Bottom number (Diastolic)= Pressure while
heart is resting between beats
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• Normal Blood Pressure

– Blood Pressure of < 140/ 90
– Blood Pressure of 130 to 139/ 85 to 89 should
be closely watched
• High Blood Pressure
– Blood Pressure > 140/ 90

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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• How can I tell if I have High

Blood Pressure?
– Usually NO SYMPTOMS!
– “The Silent Killer”
– May have:
• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Chest Pain
• Frequent urination at night
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• Blood Pressure Measurement

– Sphygmomanometer
– Systolic pressure= pressure when 1st sound is
heard
– “Diastolic pressure= pressure when last sound
is heard
• Blood Pressure Cuff Size
– Small – children and small adults
– Average
– Large – overweight and large adults
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 American Heart Association
Recommended Blood Pressure Levels
Lifestyles, fitness
And Rehabilitation

BP Systolic Diastolic Follow-up

Category (mmHg) (mmHg)
Optimal < 120 and < 80 Recheck
2 years
Normal < 130 and < 85 Recheck 2
years

High 130-139 or 85-89 Recheck 1

Normal year

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 American Heart Association
Recommended Blood Pressure Levels
Lifestyles, fitness
And Rehabilitation

Systolic
BP Diastolic
Follow-up
Category (mmHg)
(mmHg)
Stage 1
Confirm within
(mild HTN) 140-159 or 90-99
months

Stage 2
Evaluate within
(moderate 160-179 or 100-109
1 month
HTN)
Stage 3 Evaluate
180 or > or 110 or >
(severe HTN) immediately
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Causes High Blood

Pressure?
– Cause unknown in 90 to 95% of cases =
Primary Hypertension
– Secondary Hypertension = 5 to 10%
• Kidney Abnormalities
• Narrowing of certain arteries
• Rare tumors
• Adrenal gland abnormalities
• Pregnancy
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Causes High Blood

Pressure?
– Controllable Risk Factors
• Increased salt intake
• Obesity
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Lack of exercise
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Causes High Blood

Pressure?
– Uncontrollable Risk Factors
• Heredity
• Age
– Men between age 35 and 50
– Women after menopause
• Race
– 1 out of every 3 African Americans
– Higher incidence in non-Hispanic blacks and
Mexican Americans 10
Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• Women and High Blood Pressure

– Birth Control Pill
– Pregnancy
– Overweight
– After Menopause
– African Americans

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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• How does High Blood Pressure

develop?
– Certain nerve impulses cause arteries to
become larger (dilate) or smaller (contract)
– If vessels wide open blood flows easily
– If vessel narrows pressure inside
increases causing hypertension

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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What does High Blood Pressure do

to my Body?
– Stroke
– Congestive heart failure
– Kidney failure
– Heart attack
– Heart rhythm problems
– Aneurysm
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Can I Do?

– High blood pressure is a lifelong
disease
– Blood pressure can be controlled not
cured
– Controlling blood pressure will reduce
the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart
failure and kidney disease
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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Can I Do?

– Loose weight if your overweight
– Get regular physical activity
– Avoid excessive alcohol
– Stop smoking
– Manage your stress

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Lifestyles, Fitness Hypertension
and Rehabilitation

• What Can I Do?

– Decrease salt intake
– Eat for heart health
– Discuss the use of oral contraceptives
with your doctor
– Discuss the use of some medications
with your doctor
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Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation

THANK YOU

ANY QUESTIONS??

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