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Understanding High Blood Pressure
Many people don’t understand blood pressure and what their goal blood pressure should be. Here’s a primer:
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the blood is being pumped to the body. Normal systolic pressure is <120 mmHg (which stands for millimeters of mercury). Readings between 120 - 139 mmHg are considered prehypertension.
Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest or relaxed, between beats. Normal diastolic pressure is <80 mmHg. Readings between 80 – 89 mmHg are considered prehypertension.
When blood pressure exceeds either 140 systolic, 90 diastolic or both, it is defined as high blood pressure (also called hypertension). The majority of people with prehypertension will develop hypertension as they age.
Seventy-two million Americans (nearly one in three adults) suffer from hypertension, which is the major cause of strokes, heart attacks and heart disease. Yet, approximately one-third of them don’t realize they have the condition. High blood pressure does not have noticeable symptoms and it is often called “the silent killer”. Seventy percent of people living with hypertension do not have it controlled, despite the wide availability of medication.
Hypertension has traditionally been treated medications, such as diuretics (often called “water pills”), ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). Lifestyle changes, including adopting a proper diet and exercising regularly, are also recommended for the treatment of high blood pressure.
RESPeRATE is a non-drug way to help you lower your blood pressure naturally, without the costly side effects and inconvenience of many drugs.
Information gathered from the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection and Treatment of High Blood Pressure, National Institutes of Health, 2004
Join in on interesting and helpful discussions in our vibrant online community. You’ll learn how others are dealing with their hypertension and gain valuable insight on controlling your own blood pressure. Take a look at the most recent post from our User Forum:
Forum - High Blood Pressure Forum
Topic - Protein kinase G (PKG)
Protein kinase G (PKG) is a new pathway for blood pressure control. Scientists in Britain uncovered this new mechanism.
http://medgadget.com/archives/2007/08/scie..._mechanism.html
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Your questions about high blood pressure are answered by our board certified doctor. Browse through hundreds of helpful answers or ask your own question in our Ask Dr. Rowena page. Here’s a recent question:.
Hard to read blood pressure
Topic - Measuring Your BP
Q: My BP is high and hard to hear. What other methods could be used to get an accurate BP reading? A: A sphygmomanometer is a blood pressure device used in many physician offices to measure blood pressure. With this device, one listens for the sound of the return of blood flow. On the other hand, with an electronic blood pressure monitor, the pulse does not need to be heard as a blood pressure reading is based on measurable electronic waves. Many different types of electronic devices are available for both home and professional use.
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For an interesting collection of information, blogs and news about hypertension, visit our All About Hypertension page. Take a look at a recent snippet:
Lack of Sleep And Rising Nighttime Blood Pressure Linked to Cardiovascular Disease
Topic - Lack of Sleep And Rising Nighttime Blood Pressure Linked to Cardiovascular Disease
(Medical News Today) - A report published in the November 10 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine finds that people who sleep less than 7.5 hours per day may have a higher future risk of heart disease. Kazuo Eguchi, M.D., Ph.D. (Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan) and colleagues also find an increased risk of heart disease among people who have little sleep combined with overnight elevated blood pressure. Read more
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