UNDERSTANDING YOUR

BLOOD PRESSURE Created by Mary Ann Gallo 2004

Calvert County Health Department

Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition
410-535-5400/301-855-1353
Fax: 410-535-1955
Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc
 Sohigh blood pressure is a condition that most people
willhave
65 million adults havehigh
at some point
blood in their lives.
pressure in this country.
1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure
Silent Killer
NEW RESEARCH STATES
that at age 55 or older, those who do not have
high blood pressure have a 90% chance of
developing it during their lifetimes.

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood is carried to
all parts of your
body in vessels
called arteries.

Blood pressure is
the force of blood
pushing against
the arteries.
 What Is Blood Pressure?
Each time the heart beats
(about 60-70 times a
minute at rest), it pumps
out blood into the arteries.
Your blood pressure is at
its highest when the heart
beats, pumping the blood.

When the heart is

at rest, between
beats, your blood
pressure falls.
This is called SYSTOLIC pressure.
120/ 80 Bottom number

This is called DIASTOLIC pressure.

Your blood pressure is always given as these two numbers

with one above or before the other.

http://www.hsfpe.org/ Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

What Is Normal Blood Pressure?

Systolic Diastolic
Category
(Top Number) (Bottom Number)
Normal Less than 120 Less than 80

Normal blood pressure is when both

numbers are lower than 120/80.

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

 Prehypertension
Top Number Bottom Number
Prehypertension 120-139 80-89

Which of the
following blood
pressure readings are 138/82 118/78 128/89
considered
prehypertensive?

This category was created to alert people to their risk of developing

high blood pressure so they could make lifestyle changes that may
help to avoid developing this condition.

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

 Prehypertension
If your blood pressure is in the prehypertensive range:

Prehypertension 120-139 80-89

It means that you dont have high blood pressure now, but you are
likely to develop it in the future.

Unless you take ACTION to prevent it!

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

What Is High Blood Pressure?
When blood pressure stays elevated over a long period of
time it is called high blood pressure or hypertension.

http://diseases-explained.com/

High blood pressure is dangerous because it

makes the heart work too hard and contributes
to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

What Is High Blood Pressure?
Hypertension

A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Systolic Diastolic
Stage 1 140-159 90-99

Stage 2 160 or higher 100 or higher

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

High Blood Pressure
Warning Signs:

1.
2.
3.
4.

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

Why Is High Blood Pressure Important?
Increases your risk for :
Heart disease & Stroke the 1st and 3rd leading causes of
death for Americans.

If left uncontrolled, high blood pressure can also cause:

Heart failure

Heart Attack

Kidney disease

Blindness

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

What can high blood pressure do to your body?
Stroke
Heart Attack High blood pressure is the most
important risk factor for stroke. Very
high pressure can cause a break in a
High blood pressure is a weakened blood vessel, which then
bleeds in the brain. This can cause a
major risk factor for stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of
heart attack. The the narrowed arteries, it can also
arteries bring oxygen- cause a stroke.

carrying blood to the

heart muscle. If the
heart cannot get enough Blindness
oxygen, chest pain, can High blood pressure can
occur. If the flow of eventually cause blood
blood is blocked, a heart vessels in the eye to burst or
attack results. bleed. Vision may become
blurred or otherwise impaired
and can result in blindness.
Heart failure
The heart is unable to Kidney disease
pump enough blood
Kidneys act as filters to
to supply the body's
As people get older, rid the body of waste.
needs.
arteries throughout the High blood pressure can
body "harden," narrow and thicken the
especially those in the blood vessels of the
heart, brain, and
kidneys. High blood
kidneys. The kidneys
Arteries pressure is associated filter less fluid and waste
with these "stiffer" builds up in the blood.
arteries. This, in turn, The kidneys may fail
causes the heart and altogether.
kidneys to work harder.
Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc
 The Good News is
You can take action to prevent getting high blood pressure
or take steps to control it!

See your doctor for regular blood pressure check ups

If youMaintaining
drink alcoholic beverages,
a healthy weightdrink
in moderation
Eat a healthy diet rich in
vegetables and fruits, and low
Choose fatand
Get prepare
dairy foods with less salt
foodsactive
physically
If you smoke, think about quitting

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc

Understanding Your Blood Pressure

1. GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.

2. EAT HEALTHY FOODS.

3. GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE.

Our heart health depends on it!

Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure, www.nhlbi.nih.govc