High Blood | Dr. Sam

What is high blood pressure?

When the heart beats, it pumps blood to the arteries, creating pressure. Healthy arteries stretch as blood is pumped through them. However, high blood pressure can cause narrowing and hardening of the arteries, causing blood to be forced through the arteries with more pressure.

The increased pressure also causes your heart to work harder than normal. Both effects can lead to heart problems such as congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

A few basic facts

High blood pressure can increase your chances of having a heart attack or stroke, and of getting Alzheimer's disease.
One in four adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure - but many don't know it.
Although its cause is often unknown, high blood pressure is usually easy to detect and control.

What the numbers mean

Because new studies show the risk of heart disease and stroke begins to increase earlier than previously thought, a "pre-hypertension" range has been added.

Many adults whose blood pressure was considered borderline or even normal now fall into this category, with blood pressures ranging from 120/80 to 139/89. Normal is now defined as 119/79 and below, while 140/90 and higher still defines high blood pressure.

Are you at risk?

You're at increased risk for high blood pressure if you:

are African American
have a family history of high blood pressure
are a male 35-55 years old, or a post-menopausal female
are overweight
are physically inactive
drink alcohol regularly or heavily
are a smoker
are over-stressed
have certain chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes)

What you can do

You can't change some of these factors - but you can decrease your risk with lifestyle changes like improving your diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking.

Get your blood pressure checked regularly, even if you're feeling good! A single high reading may not mean you have high blood pressure, but it's a sign to watch over time. Check your blood pressure regularly and keep a record of the readings to show your doctor. Include the date, time of day, and any conditions that may affect your blood pressure, such as stress or exercise.

Be aggressive about treating high blood pressure.

Watch your salt intake.
Check your blood pressure at home.
Do not assume that your blood pressure is elevated only because you were nervous about seeing your doctor; it may be elevated in numerous stressful situations.
Consider meditation and visualization, and don't forget that regular exercise lowers blood pressure over time.
Consider the DASH diet promoted by the National Institutes of Health.