High Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure?

The heart is a pump that circulates blood throughout your body. Blood is pumped from the heart at a constant pressure into the arteries. This pressure is call arterial blood pressure and represents, in general terms, your blood pressure. Blood pressure is indicated by several kinds of pressures, including systolic pressure that occurs when the heart pumps blood and the diastolic pressure that occurs when the blood returns to the heart. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure will go.

You can have high blood pressure for years without any symptoms. Uncontrolled high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke and other serious health problems. High blood pressure eventually affects almost everyone and fortunately is easily detected. Once high blood pressure is detected, work with your doctor to control it.


Signs

Most people with high blood pressure don’t have symptoms. Possible early-stage people may have dull headaches, dizzy spells or a few more nosebleeds than normal. Normally these signs do not occur until a severe level is reached.


Blood Pressure Classifications

A blood pressure reading, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), has two numbers. The upper number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The lower number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure). Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are important.

Blood pressure measurements have four categories:
  • Normal blood pressure – Your blood pressure is normal if it's below 120/80 mm Hg.
  • Prehypertension – A systolic pressure ranging from 120 to 139 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg.
  • Stage 1 Hypertension – A systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg.
  • Stage 2 Hypertension – A systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher.
Taking Your Blood Pressure at Home

When you have high blood pressure it is important to check your blood pressure frequently. Home blood pressure monitors are now available and no prescription is needed to buy one. Go to our CITIZEN Store to get yours today.


Why Your Blood Pressure Changes

Your blood pressure differs according to your age, gender and a range of other factors. It is likely to be affected by your biorhythms, posture, physical activities, mental activities, level of stress and even by the air temperature. Blood pressure of a healthy person generally varies during the course of the day. That is why it is important to measure your blood pressure at the same time each day.


Lifestyle Changes Can Go a Long Way

Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure. Here are some suggestions as to what you can do:

  • Monitor your blood pressure at home – Home blood pressure monitoring can help you keep closer tabs on your blood pressure or alert you to potential complications. Visit our CITIZEN Store to find the right CITIZEN Blood Pressure Monitor for you.
  • Eat healthy foods – Eat the “Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension” or commonly known as the “DASH” diet. This diet emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy, less saturated fat and total fat.
  • Decrease the salt in your diet – Cut out processed, canned or frozen prepared foods.
  • Maintain a healthy weight – Need we say more!
  • Increase physical activity – See our article on: “Literally Taking Steps, One of the Keys to Good Health” and see how using a CITIZEN Pedometer can get you more physically active.
  • Limit alcohol – Alcohol raises blood pressure. Studies recommend drink in moderation- one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.
  • Don't smoke – If you smoke—stop!
  • Manage stress – Reduce stress as much as possible and get plenty of sleep.