Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the force blood exerts against the walls of the arteries—the vessels that move blood from the heart through the body. Blood pressure readings involve two numbers. The first, systole, measures the force of the blood as the heart beats. The second number, diastole, is the resting force between heart beats.

Because many factors can raise blood pressure temporarily, a reading is accurate only if it is consistently found on several different occasions.

The National Institutes of Health recommends the following classification and management based on initial blood pressure readings:

The damaging effects of uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension) become evident over time. The excessive pressure causes the walls of small arteries to thicken, thereby reducing the flow of blood. This can lead to a blockage that could lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and other problems. In rare cases, excessive pressure can weaken the arterial walls, which increases the chance of rupture, much like a worn out bicycle tire.

Causes of hypertension

High blood pressure is a complex condition, with no single, clear cut cause. Ninety-five percent of high blood pressure is called “essential hypertension” because it has no known cause; however, the arteries, kidneys, and heart are all involved.

Some conditions known to raise blood pressure include:

• Clogged arteries increase the force the blood exerts, similar to the water in a blocked pipe or garden hose.
• Underactive kidneys retain too much fluid, causing the amount of blood in the body and its pressure to increase.
• An overworking heart may result in the blood being pumped abnormally hard.

Risk factors

A person doesn’t have to be “tense” to have hypertension. High blood pressure can affect anyone, regardless of personality, age, race, sex, or personal habits. However, the following factors can increase the risk of developing hypertension:

• Alcohol consumption
• Tobacco use
• Obesity and lack of exercise. Being overweight makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of hypertension and several other chronic diseases.
• High sodium (salt) consumption. Some people seem to have an inherited sensitivity to the effects of sodium on blood pressure.
• History of coronary heart disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or elevated cholesterol. Any of these conditions can increase high blood pressure.
• Family history of high blood pressure, especially if one or both parents have, or have had, high blood pressure.
• Age. Blood pressure tends to increase with age, and hypertension is most common in people over 50.

Blood pressure screening

You may be asked to have your blood pressure checked on multiple occasions or to monitor your blood pressure over time.

• Call 265-5600 to schedule an appointment to have blood pressure checked.
• Plan to arrive and rest for 15 minutes prior to the appointment to stabilize the blood pressure.
• Notify the person measuring the blood pressure of any medications, smoking, or consumption of caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, soda, or energy drinks.

Lifestyle modifications

Lifestyle modifications are effective in lowering blood pressure and are the cornerstone of any hypertensive treatment plan. These include:

• maintaining a healthy adult body weight
• engaging in regular aerobic activities such as brisk walking (at least 30 to 45 minutes per day, most days of the week)
• reducing dietary sodium intake to no more than 2400 mg per day
• maintaining adequate intake of dietary potassium (3500 mg per day)
• consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products

If these measures do not bring blood pressure down sufficiently, medication may be prescribed. Often multiple medications are needed. It is important to continue these lifestyle changes to maximize the benefits of medication therapy and help reduce the dose needed to control blood pressure.