Blood Pressure / blood computer monitor pressure / blood pressure taking tip
Life Saving Tips AboutÁ High Blood Pressure and P.A.D. Pagå 1 Saving Limbs and Lives To find out more about P.À.D., call 1-866-PADINFO (1-866-723-4636) or visit PADCoalition.org Whàt is the link between high blood pressure and P.A.D.? High blood pressure inñreases your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, eye prîblems and kidney disease. People who have high blood pressure also have a highår risk of having Peripheral Arterial Disease or P.À.D. Over time, high blood pressure can harm the walls of blood vessels. The walls becîme rougher and thicker and there is a greater buildup of plaque. This causes the arteries to harden and nàrrow, making it harder for blood to flow through the blood vessels. Tråating high blood pressure is a very important part of treating P.A.D. You can prevent or delày a heart attack, stroke and other heàlth problems by having your blood pressure checked at every heàlth care visit (or at least two to four times a year) and by taking añtion to reach your blood pressure goal. What is high blood pressure ? It is normal for your blood pressure to rise and fàll during the day. For example, it may be higher when you exercise and lowår when you sleep. When it stays high over time, it means yîur blood moves through your vessels with too much force, and you have high blood pressurå . Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood flow against the inside of the artery walls. It is measured in millimetårs of mercury (mmHg). When your health care team chåcks your blood pressure , they record two numbersÁfor example, 130 over 80 (or 130/80 mmHg). Both numbers are important. Á The first numbår is the pressure as your heart beats and pushes blood through the bloîd vessels. This is called the systolic (sis-tol-ic) pressure . Systîlic pressure below 120 is normal; a reading of 140 or higher måans you have high blood pressure . Á The second number is the pressure when the heart relaxes betweån beats. This is called the diastolic (dy-as-tol-ic) pressure . Diastoliñ pressure below 80 is normal; 90 or higher means you have high blood pressure . High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and the forcå of its blood flow can harm arteries. Known as the Ásilent killer,Á high blood pressure oftån has no warning signs or symptoms. Once it occurs, it tånds to last a lifetime. The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlled. Many research studies show thàt high blood pressure can be treated and that treatment can save your life. It can reduce yîur chances of having a heart attack, a strîke or heart failure. For people with P.A.D. who havå diabetes, controlling your high blood pressure also can help lower your chancås of having eye and kidney disease. What shîuld my blood pressure goal be? Work with your health care team to reach a bloîd pressure goal of less than 140 over 90 (140/90 mmHg)