BLOOD PRESSUREPresented By: Tom Martin, M.D.

The “Silent Killer“ Epidemic

One in three U.S adults have high blood pressure. Because there are no symptoms, nearly one third of these people do NOT know they have it! American Heart Association

What is Blood Pressure? The pressure of blood against the walls of

the arteries.

How is Blood Pressure Measured? A sphygmomanometer

What Should Your Blood Pressure Numbers Be? Systolic Pressure

◦ The force in the arteries when the heart beats Diastolic Pressure

◦ The force in the arteries when the heart is at rest

12080

Tips for Blood Pressure Readings Don’t have coffee, alcohol or cigarettes for

30 minutes before going in to have your blood pressure taken.

Sit for five minutes with back supported and feet flat

Wear a shirt with short sleeves so that the sphygmomanometer touches your skin

Don’t talk while taking the reading Get two readings and then figure the

average of them

What is Hypertension? The condition in which blood pressure levels

are above the normal range.

Blood Pressure Category Systolic Diastolic

Normal Less than 120 Les than 80

Prehypertension 120-139 Or 80-89

High Stage 1 140-159 Or 90-99

High Stage 2 160 or higher Or 100 or higher

High Blood Pressure is the number one risk factor for stroke contributes to

◦ heart attacks◦ heart failure◦ kidney failure◦ atherosclerosis

is more common among people over 35

Check your Blood Pressure Regularly

Are You at Risk? Controllable Risk

Factors◦ Stress◦ Obesity◦ Too much salt intake◦ Drinking too much

alcohol◦ Smoking

Uncontrollable Risk Factors◦ Race◦ Heredity◦ Age

High Blood Pressure Facts Adults 55 + have a 90% risk of developing

high blood pressure. Hypertension affects 67% of diabetics. In 90-95% of high blood pressure cases, the

cause is unknown. Hypertension nationally accounts for $66.4

billion in healthcare costs.

How Can You Prevent and Control Hypertension?

Monitor your blood

pressureLimit alcohol Quit smoking

Take medication, if prescribed

Change Your Lifestyle! Eat a healthy diet Maintain a healthy weight Be active 30 minutes per day

Reduce Sodium in Diet Use fresh poultry, lean meat, and fish Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasonings Buy fresh, frozen, or canned “no salt added”

vegetables Rinse canned foods to reduce sodium Choose convenience food low in salt

Diuretics Beta blockers ACE inhibitors Angiotensin II

Receptor Blockers

Calcium Channel Blockers

Alpha blocker Alpha-beta

blockers Nervous system

inhibitors Vasodilators

What if I Need Medication?

American Heart Association

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Mayo Clinic

Resources for Good Health