The Pressure Is On: Getting Your Blood Pressure Under Control

Beat by beat, your heart forces blood to circulate through your body, delivering oxygen to vital organs and tissues so that your body can function properly. These levels are referred to as your blood pressure and good blood pressure levels are key indicators of good health. However, if you experience higher blood pressure you aren’t alone – almost 68 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Before talking about what you can do to stay healthy, let’s look at why maintaining good blood pressure (under 120/80) is so important. The reason that high blood pressure can be dangerous is because your heart is pumping blood faster than it should, which, over time, can damage your heart and the walls of your arteries.

Unfortunately, there are no tell-tale signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, although some people may experience dizziness or headaches. When left untreated, high blood pressure leads to a variety of serious and even life-threatening complications. These include: stroke, heart attack, aneurysms, impaired kidney function, and trouble with memory and cognition.

Let’s talk numbers.

Blood pressure is expressed through two numbers, the systolic and diastolic. The systolic, the first number, measures the pressure when your heart beats. The diastolic, the second number, measures the pressure between beats.

Normal:  Systolic: Less than 120 mmHg/Diastolic: less than 80mmHg

Prehypertension (“at risk” blood pressure): Systolic: 120–139 mmHg/Diastolic: 80–89 mmHg

High: Systolic: 140 mmHg or higher/Diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher

If you’re concerned that you already have high blood pressure (or are at a higher risk of developing it), here are some tips that may help you get it under control or lower your chances of getting it:

Five Ways To Prevent Or Help Lower Blood Pressure

  1. Know your numbers. Get your blood pressure checked regularly by your physician. In between doctor visits, you can keep an eye on it yourself by using blood pressure machines found in many pharmacies.
  2. Watch the scale. Anything above “normal” on the body mass index (BMI) increases your risk.
  3. Get moving. Consistent, regular exercise makes your heart stronger, and a stronger heart moves the blood through your body with less effort. That means lower blood pressure.
  4. Ban the saltshaker. Too much salt in your diet causes salt to move from your kidneys into your bloodstream, which attracts water and increases blood volume and blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, limit salt intake to 1,500 mg per day.
  5. Take medication as directed. If you have high blood pressure and your physician prescribes medication, always take it as directed and keep an eye on your blood pressure when you are away from the doctor.

Protect your health by being aware of your blood pressure numbers, understand where you might be at risk, and consciously perform the healthy activities that support a strong heart and healthy blood pressure!

Alma Health Skilled Services will work directly with you to identify, locate, and coordinate all of the possible needs and resources you may need to accomplish the goal of a healthy lifestyle. For more information about our services please visit our website!

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    [post_content] => Beat by beat, your heart forces blood to circulate through your body, delivering oxygen to vital organs and tissues so that your body can function properly. These levels are referred to as your blood pressure and good blood pressure levels are key indicators of good health. However, if you experience higher blood pressure you aren't alone - almost 68 million Americans have high blood pressure.

Before talking about what you can do to stay healthy, let’s look at why maintaining good blood pressure (under 120/80) is so important. The reason that high blood pressure can be dangerous is because your heart is pumping blood faster than it should, which, over time, can damage your heart and the walls of your arteries.

 

Unfortunately, there are no tell-tale signs or symptoms of high blood pressure, although some people may experience dizziness or headaches. When left untreated, high blood pressure leads to a variety of serious and even life-threatening complications. These include: stroke, heart attack, aneurysms, impaired kidney function, and trouble with memory and cognition.

Let's talk numbers.



Blood pressure is expressed through two numbers, the systolic and diastolic. The systolic, the first number, measures the pressure when your heart beats. The diastolic, the second number, measures the pressure between beats.

Normal:  Systolic: Less than 120 mmHg/Diastolic: less than 80mmHg

Prehypertension (“at risk” blood pressure): Systolic: 120–139 mmHg/Diastolic: 80–89 mmHg

High: Systolic: 140 mmHg or higher/Diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher

If you’re concerned that you already have high blood pressure (or are at a higher risk of developing it), here are some tips that may help you get it under control or lower your chances of getting it:

Five Ways To Prevent Or Help Lower Blood Pressure

    
 	
  1. Know your numbers. Get your blood pressure checked regularly by your physician. In between doctor visits, you can keep an eye on it yourself by using blood pressure machines found in many pharmacies.
    2. 
 	
  2.  Watch the scale. Anything above “normal” on the body mass index (BMI) increases your risk.
    3. 
 	
  3.  Get moving. Consistent, regular exercise makes your heart stronger, and a stronger heart moves the blood through your body with less effort. That means lower blood pressure.
    4. 
 	
  4.  Ban the saltshaker. Too much salt in your diet causes salt to move from your kidneys into your bloodstream, which attracts water and increases blood volume and blood pressure. For people with high blood pressure, limit salt intake to 1,500 mg per day.
    5. 
 	
  5.  Take medication as directed. If you have high blood pressure and your physician prescribes medication, always take it as directed and keep an eye on your blood pressure when you are away from the doctor.
    6. 


Protect your health by being aware of your blood pressure numbers, understand where you might be at risk, and consciously perform the healthy activities that support a strong heart and healthy blood pressure!

Alma Health Skilled Services will work directly with you to identify, locate, and coordinate all of the possible needs and resources you may need to accomplish the goal of a healthy lifestyle. For more information about our services please visit our website!
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