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Is
your blood pressure greater than 120/80?
Important New Guidelines for high blood pressure
In
May 2003, the National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes issued new
guidelines for managing and treating high blood pressure (hypertension).
This expert panel targets those with blood pressure in the "prehypertension"
range because new evidence shows that risk of cardiovascular disease
begins at lower levels of blood pressure than was once thought. Now,
those with blood pressure greater than 120/80 (either number above this
level) and below 140/90 are considered prehypertensive and are
encouraged to make major lifestyle changes to reduce their risk of
developing high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Those
lifestyle changes are:
-
losing weight if you are overweight
- eating a diet rich in potassium and calcium and lower in sodium
- maintaining regular physical activity
- drinking alcohol in moderation (2 or less drinks per day)
A Vital Force
Blood Pressure is the natural force exerted by the blood against
the walls of the arteries. It is expressed by two numbers and
measured in millimeters of mercury( mm/Hg) i.e. 120/80 mm/Hg. The
top number (systolic blood pressure, SBP) represents the force of the
blood when the heart pumps it; the bottom number (diastolic blood
pressure, DBP) is the residual force of the blood when the
heart is at rest. Blood pressure varies throughout the day.
High blood pressure, or hypertension , occurs when it remains at or
above 140/90. There are usually no clear symptoms associated with
high blood pressure. It, too, is a silent risk factor for heart
disease. It is very easy to detect with a special cuff.
An
optimal blood pressure has been identified as a systolic of less than
120 (in mm Hg) and diastolic less then 80 (in mm Hg), typically written
as 120/80. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is identified as a
systolic of 140 or greater OR a diastolic of 90 or greater.
Large Numbers
One out of 4 Americans, about
50-60 million, have high blood pressure. African Americans and the
elderly have proportionately higher blood pressure than whites and the
young. About half the population in the U.S. has hypertension by
age 74. For a small percentage of those, high blood pressure is
due to kidney problems or narrowing of the aorta, the main artery leading
away from the heart, or to tumors of the adrenal glands. For 95%
of people with high blood pressure the causes of hypertension are not
known: it is called primary or "essential" hypertension.
Increased Risks-
High blood pressure is one of the
MAJOR risk factors for heart disease & stroke.
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