What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries when your heart pumps blood. Arteries are the tubes that carry blood away from your heart. Every time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. Do you remember the last time you got your blood pressure checked? Be sure to stop in and speak to your local Hometown pharmacist and get your blood pressure results today!
How Often Should I Get My Blood Pressure Checked?
Your blood pressure should be checked at least once a year starting at age 18. It’s important to check your blood pressure often, especially if you are over age 40.
Is High Blood Pressure The Same As Hypertension?
Hypertension (“hy-puhr-TEHN-shun”) is the medical term for high blood pressure. High blood pressure has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get tested.
By taking steps to lower your blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Lowering your blood pressure can help you live a longer, healthier life.
What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean?
A blood pressure test measures how hard your heart is working to pump blood through your body.
Blood pressure is measured with 2 numbers. The first number is the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number is the pressure in your arteries between each beat when your heart relaxes.
Normal blood pressure is: lower than 120/80 .
High blood pressure is: 140/90 or higher.
Am I At Risk For High Blood Pressure
1 in 3 Americans has high blood pressure. As you get older, your risk of high blood pressure increases.
You may be at higher risk for high blood pressure if you:
- • Are overweight or obese
- • Are African American
- • Have a family history of high blood pressure
- • Eat foods high in sodium (salt)
- • Get less than 30 minutes of physical activity on most days
These things may also increase your risk of high blood pressure:
- • Drinking too much alcohol
- • Having chronic (ongoing) stress
- • Smoking
What Do I Need To Know About Pregnancy And Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure can be dangerous for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby. If you have high blood pressure and you want to get pregnant, it’s important to take steps to lower your blood pressure.
Sometimes, women get high blood pressure for the first time during pregnancy. This is called gestational (“jes-TAY-shon-al”) hypertension. Usually, this type of high blood pressure goes away after the baby is born.
If you have high blood pressure while you are pregnant, be sure to visit your doctor regularly.
What If I Have High Blood Pressure?
If you have high blood pressure, talk to a doctor. You may need medicine to control your blood pressure.
To Help Lower Your Blood Pressure, Take These Steps:
Small changes can add up!
• Eat healthy foods that are low in saturated fat and sodium (salt).
• Get active – Aim for 2 hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity.
• Watch your weight by eating healthy and getting active.
• Remember to take medicines as prescribed (ordered) by your doctor.
