High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Hypertension contributes to nearly 1 million heart attacks each year.
Reducing hypertension has been shown to lower the incidence of stroke, coronary heart disease and heart failure.
What is blood pressure?
Blood flowing through blood vessels creates a pressure against the vessel wall. Blood pressure is a measure of that pressure taken at two stages. The higher number, called the systolic pressure, is the pressure exerted when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the vessels. The lower number, called the diastolic pressure, is the pressure exerted when the heart relaxes between beats. Blood pressure rises when blood vessels become narrow and hard, leaving less room for blood to flow. The heart has to work harder to move the blood.
An optimal blood pressure reading is: systolic below 120, diastolic below 80.
What are the classifications of blood pressure?
| Stage |
mmHg reading |
|
Optimal (good) |
Below 120/80 |
|
Prehypertension |
Systolic from 120 to 139, diastolic from 80 to 89 |
|
Hypertension: Stage 1 |
Systolic 140 to159, diastolic 90 to 99.
Try to change your diet and exercise first. If this doesn't work, see your doctor. |
|
Hypertension: Stage 2 |
Systolic greater than160, diastolic greater than 100 |
Blood pressure readings are not always the same. They vary depending on physical activity, emotional state and other factors. If your blood pressure reading is high for a long period of time though, it becomes a medical concern.
What are the dangers of high blood pressure?
Uncontrolled high blood pressure can cause complications in several bodily organs, including the heart, blood vessels, brain, nerves, kidneys and retinas (eyes).
1. Enlargement of the heart: When blood vessels are damaged, the heart must strain to meet the body's need for blood and the oxygen that blood carries. Over time, the heart will become enlarged and weak, leading to heart failure.
2. Atherosclerosis: High blood pressure can damage the inner linings of the arteries, creating rough areas where fatty deposits can build up. This condition is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. When the arteries harden, it is harder for the body to regulate blood pressure.
3. Stroke: High blood pressure can damage vessels that supply blood to the brain. Damaged blood vessels can disrupt the flow of blood to the brain, causing a stroke.
4. Coronary heart disease (CHD): Coronary heart disease occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart become blocked. Hypertension is a CHD risk factor.
5. Kidney damage and failure: High blood pressure for a long time can damage blood vessels in the kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure.
6. Eye damage: High blood pressure for a long time can damage blood vessels on the retina, eventually leading to blindness if untreated.
What are some hypertension risk factors?
1. Aging: About 52% of Americans in their 60s' have high blood pressure.
2. Family history: If one or both your parents have high blood pressure, you have a greater chance of becoming hypertensive.
3. Race: African-Americans have about twice the risk of developing hypertension than do Caucasians.
4. Overweight or obese individuals: Overweight or obese individuals have a higher risk of becoming hypertensive as individuals at a healthy body weight.
What can you do?
1. Have your blood pressure measured by a health professional every two years.
2. Keep your blood pressure under control: Less than 120/80.
3. If you have hypertension, take medication prescribed by your doctor, maintain a healthy body weight, exercise regularly, cut down on salt and quit smoking.
Cigarette Smoking
A tremendous amount of evidence shows that cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for coronary heart disease. Cigarette smoking increases the triglyceride (fat) level and lowers the HDL-C (good cholesterol) level in your blood. When a person stops smoking, benefits occur immediately! After one year of not smoking, the coronary heart disease risk is lowered by 50% as compared with those who continue to smoke.
What can you do?
1. Participate in formal smoking cessation programs to help you quit smoking.
2. Encourage family members who smoke to quit also.
Factors Leading to Development of a Blood Clot (Thrombus)
Blood is made up of cells that move in a liquid called plasma. There are three types of blood cells: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets help stop bleeding. If a blood vessel is cut, platelets stick together, forming a blood clot. Blood clotting keeps you from bleeding to death when you have a cut. Scabs are clots on the surface of the skin.
Sometimes, a clot may occur in a blood vessel that has not been cut. If the vessel is already clogged with plaque from too much cholesterol, the blood clot may block the flow of blood to your tissues. If the clot blocks one of the heart's arteries, it can cause a heart attack. If the clot blocks an artery to the brain, a stroke may occur.
Doctors now prescribe aspirin to patients who have had a heart attack to help keep them from having another one. It also helps prevent men from having a first heart attack. Take aspirin only upon your physician's recommendation, since aspirin is also a blood thinner and you may bleed more easily if you take aspirin regularly.
Heart Disease Risk Factors
- Type 2 diabetes
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity
- Postmenopausal status without hormone replacement - hormones help prevent heart disease.
- Psychosocial factors - stress, hostility or social isolation.
- Elevated homocysteine level - you can reduce your homocysteine level by getting lots of B-vitamins in your diet. Good sources of B -vitamins include whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean meats.
- Oxidation of LDL-cholesterol - eating foods high in vitamin E, an antioxidant, can prevent this. Good sources of vitamin E include grains, fruits, vegetables and vegetable oils.
Web Site Assignments:
Explore the web sites listed below. Each of these sites have activities for you to complete to practice what you have learned.
The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. Take the Ticker Test to test your own risk. Click on Test Your Knowledge. Then click on What Is Heart Disease. Click on Risk Factors. Click on the hearts to go through all of them. Once you are through, click on Signs and Symptoms. Also explore the Heart Smart Kids - pretend you're a kid. Click on Dear Family. Be sure to do the Active Play Every Day and the Grow with Us sections.
Margarine Organization. Look over for recipe ideas, information ab out fats and other information.
Healthy fridge campaign. Click on Open the Door to a Healthy Heart, then Healthy Fridge, and then Top 10 for a Heart-Healthy Refrigerator. After reading the Top 10, click on Home, Contests & More and Test Your Saturated Fat I.Q.
Take the Heart Smart Challenge as discussed earlier in the lesson.
Quizzes for This Lesson
Here are two other quizzes you can take on the net!
1. Cholesterol and Heart Disease I.Q. Quiz.
Summary
You can do five important things to prevent heart disease and stroke!
1. Eat a heart-healthy diet! Practice balance, variety and moderation when planning and eating meals, using the Food Guide. Select foods that are low in total fat, saturated fat, trans fats, and cholesterol.
2. Exercise! Regular physical activity should be an important part of your daily routine.
3. Watch your weight! Always strive to maintain a healthy body weight.
4. Be a non-smoker! When a person stops smoking, benefits occur immediately!
5. Moderate or refrain from alcohol.
Each of these behaviors should be part of your and your family's lifestyle. You will reap the benefits by feeling better and helping to prevent heart disease and stroke.
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