Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. High blood pressure occurs when
the force of the blood is too high during heart contraction or relaxation within the arteries. This causes your
heart to pump harder to circulate the blood.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than half of all adult Americans have high
blood pressure. Risk factors include being overweight, having a family history of the disease, and being older.
High blood pressure often has no symptoms but can lead to serious health complications such as heart
attack, stroke, or kidney failure. You can find out if your blood pressure is higher than normal by checking it
yourself or by having it checked regularly by your health care provider.
Systolic pressure (top number)
-
Measures the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body.
- Normal blood pressure < 120
- High blood pressure > 130
Diastolic pressure (bottom number)
-
Measures the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood.
- Normal blood pressure < 80
- High blood pressure > 80
A single high blood pressure measurement
does not always mean you have a problem.
Your health care provider will want to see
several blood pressure measurements before
diagnosing high blood pressure and starting treatment.
How can you prevent high blood pressure?
You can help prevent high blood pressure by making lifestyle changes such as:
-
Avoid foods with saturated and trans-fat.
- Choose foods that are low in salt (sodium).
- Drink fewer or no alcoholic beverages.
- Eat less canned, frozen, and processed foods.
- Get enough quality sleep.
- Get more exercise.
- Limit caffeine and soda intake.
- Reduce stress.
As part of Spectrum Health, our local cardiovascular team is connected to nationally recognized resources that you and your heart can depend on. To learn more, or find a provider near you, visit lakelandheart.com