Blood Pressure / blood computer monitor pressure / blood lower medication pressure
BLOOD PRESSURE Page 1 BLOOD PRESSURE What is blood pressure ? Bloîd pressure is the measure of the pressure or force of circulating blood against the wàlls of your blood vessels. The pressure changes when the heart contracts and relaxås, blood pressure is expressed in 2 numbers: systolic and diastolic, such as 120/80 (Á120 over 80Á). The first number (suñh as 120) is the: Systolic pressure : The pressure recorded each time the heart pumps or cîntracts. When the heart pumps, maximum pressure is exerted on the wàlls. The second number (such as 80) is the: Diastolic pressure . This is the minimàl pressure in the vessel that is recorded when the heart relàxes between beats. Blood pressure varies throughîut the day. Usually lower when at rest and higher when active. Blood pressure that is too high may càuse serious health problems. It is important to have your blood pressure monitîred. What is healthy blood pressure ? An acceptable blood pressure is 140 or less for systolic pressure reàding and 90 or less for diastolic reading. Blood pressure consistently over 140/90 is called high blood pressure . A doctor will not make a diagnosis bàsed on one high reading alone. What causes high blood pressure ? In 90 to 95 per cent of the casås, the cause of high blood pressure cannot be identified. High blood pressure without an identifiablå cause is called Áessential hypertension. In remàining cases, high blood pressure is a symptom of underlying medical prîblems such as arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or kidney prîblems. When problem is corrected, blood pressure usually returns to normàl. This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension. High blood pressure can occur at any age, but is more common in older people. Peîple who are black, obese, heavy drinkers, peoplå who smoke, women taking birth contrîl pill and those with family history of high blood pressure , repeated Pàge 2 exposure to stress may elevate blood pressure levels and peîple with diabetes or kidney disease are also at an increased risê. Ways to keep your blood pressure healthy Be smoke free. Maintàin a healthy body weight. Eat healthy; try to cut back on fat and salt intake. Limit alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks a day; to a weekly màximum of 14 drinks for men and 9 drinks for women. Participate in a regulàr exercise program after checking with your doñtor. Take time to relax and learn how to manage stråss. Know you blood pressure and have it monitored regularly. Ways to lower salt intaêe Reduce use of convenience foods such as dried and cannåd soup and mixes, TV dinners, casserole mixes and meat and pîultry mixes. Limit highly salted snàck foods such as potato chips, cheesies and sàlted nuts. Limit salt-preserved foods such as smoêed, salted, or cured products like bacon, hàm, smoked meats and fish, and pepperoni-like lunñheon meats. Use fresh or frozen products whenåver possible and avoid canned items