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Provided Courtesy of Nutrition411.com
Understanding Blood Pressure
and How It Affects You
Contributed by Alex Lewis, RD, LD
Review Date 4/24/15
What is blood pressure?
Your blood pressure (BP) is the force or
pressure your blood pushes against
your arteries as it is circulated
throughout your body.
What is blood
pressure?(cont’d)
There are two numbers given when
you get your blood pressure checked.
Systolic BP
The first (or top) number is your
systolic blood pressure. This is the
pressure that occurs when your heart
pumps blood to your body.
Diastolic BP
The second (or bottom) number is your
diastolic blood pressure. This is the
pressure that occurs when your heart
fills back up with blood.
What should my blood
pressure be?
Ideally, your systolic blood pressure
should be less than 120 and your
diastolic should be less than 80. This
would read as 120/80.
What is an abnormal
blood pressure?
• Hypertension is another term used to describe high
blood pressure.
• You are considered to have pre-hypertension if your
first (top) number is between 120-139 and your second
(bottom) number is between 80-89.
• You are considered to have high blood pressure or
hypertension if your first (top) number is greater than
140 and your second (bottom) number is greater than
90.
What if just my first number is
high, but my second number is
normal?
• If your first (top) number is greater than 140,
but your second (bottom) number is less than 90
then you are considered to have isolated
systolic hypertension.
• This is the most common form of hypertension
in older adults.
What are the dangers of
high blood pressure?
• High blood pressure is often called the
“silent killer.”
• You can have high blood pressure and still
feel fine, but it is important to get your
numbers under control.
What are the dangers of high
blood pressure? (cont’d)
If uncontrolled, high blood pressure can lead to
stroke, heart disease, heart attack, vision loss,
and kidney problems.
What symptoms would I feel if
I had high blood pressure?
You may not feel any symptoms of high blood
pressure. That is why it is so important to get
your numbers checked regularly by your doctor.
What symptoms would I feel if
I had high blood pressure?
(cont’d)
High blood pressure can cause headaches,
confusion, problems seeing, and chest pain. It
is very important you see your doctor if you are
feeling any of these symptoms.
What if my blood pressure is
too low?
High blood pressure is more common, but you
may suffer from low blood pressure or
hypotension instead. This is defined as the
top number being less than 90 or the bottom
number being less than 60.
What if my blood pressure is
too low? (cont’d)
• You may always have low blood pressure
and that may be normal for your body.
• However, low blood pressure is bad when
your blood pressure falls suddenly. Your
body cannot recover as well.
What if my blood pressure is
too low? (cont’d)
• You may feel weak, dizzy, or light-headed.
• Sudden low blood pressure can be caused
from being dehydrated, standing for too
long, or getting up suddenly from a seated
position.
How can I improve my blood
pressure?
• Certain factors predispose someone to
having high blood pressure. These include
genetics, gender, age, and race.
• There are many lifestyle changes you can
make to improve your high blood pressure
or reduce your risk of developing high blood
pressure.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Exercise for at least 30 minutes or more most
days each week.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Eat a well-balanced diet full of fruits,
vegetables, and whole grains.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Watch your sodium intake. Foods high in
sodium include canned goods such as soups
and tomato sauces, deli meats, cheese, and
condiments.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
If you smoke, cut back or quit altogether.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Limit alcoholic drinks to two per day for men
and one per day for women.
How can I improve my blood
pressure? (cont’d)
Reduce stress by learning meditation
techniques, doing yoga, or talking to a friend.
References and
recommended readings
High blood pressure. National Institute on Aging website.
http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/high-bloodpressure. Updated July 20, 2015. Accessed July 27, 2015.
Hypertension/high blood pressure health center. WebMD
website. http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-bloodpressure/tc/high-blood-pressure-hypertension-overview.
Accessed July 27, 2015.