BP Picture
Blood pressure refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body.
It's typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is recorded as two numbers: systolic and diastolic.
- Systolic pressure: This is the higher number and represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts and pumps blood into the circulation.
- Diastolic pressure: This is the lower number and represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats.
A typical blood pressure reading is written as systolic/diastolic, for example, 120/80 mmHg. The American Heart Association defines the following blood pressure categories for adults:
Normal: Systolic less than 120 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg
Elevated: Systolic between 120-129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 1: Systolic between 130-139 mmHg or diastolic between 80-89 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 2: Systolic 140 mmHg or higher or diastolic 90 mmHg or higher
Hypertensive Crisis: Systolic over 180 mmHg and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 2: Systolic 140 mmHg or higher or diastolic 90 mmHg or higher
Hypertensive Crisis: Systolic over 180 mmHg and/or diastolic over 120 mmHg
High blood pressure (hypertension) can put strain on your heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health issues.
It's often called the "silent killer" because it usually doesn't cause noticeable symptoms until it has caused significant damage. Lifestyle changes, medication, and regular check-ups are important for managing blood pressure and overall cardiovascular health.
It's important to note that individual circumstances can vary, and blood pressure targets might differ based on a person's medical history, age, and other factors.
Regular monitoring and consultation with a healthcare professional are crucial for accurate assessment and management of blood pressure.
High blood pressure, or hypertension as it is medically called, affects about 50 million people in the United States.
In the vast majority it pro- duces no symptoms, but is important because, if unchecked, it can result in heart disease and strokes, which are the leading causes of death and disability.
A recent government survey showed that while 65 percent of people with high blood pressure were aware of their condition, only 49 percent were being treated for it, and a mere 21 percent had their blood pressure adequately controlled.
For most people with hypertension it is a lifelong condition whose ex- act cause is unknown, although both heredity and the environment are thought to play a part.
The good news is that there is a lot you can do to keep it in check and to prevent its consequences.
Knowledge is power, and the purpose of this book is to tell you what you need to know in or- der to come to terms with your hypertension, and to live a long and fruitful life.
In the past, the attitude of many doctors toward their patients was pa- tronizing. If you were a patient with hypertension, this might mean that your doctor would be reluctant to tell you what your pressure actually was, and would simply hand you a prescription and tell you to take the pills.
Today's patient is no longer a passive recipient of pills, but an edu- cated and informed consumer.
The news media all have medical corre- spondents, and articles describing research findings in medical journals are often featured on the Seven O'Clock News and in USA Today.
This information is often conflicting: on one occasion we are told that vitamin E prevents heart disease and cancer, and on another that it is of no value or possibly even harmful.