1. UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
Adapted from
Created by Mary Ann Gallo 2004
INTRO: NAME, WHERE FROM, PROGRAM
PURPOSE – TALK TO YOU ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE AND WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND REGARDING YOUR HEALTH.
AND ALSO…TO
SHARE WITH YOU A NEW GUIDELINE FOR HYPERTENSION, PREVENTION AND MANGMENT THAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY,
JOINT NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON PREV., DETECT, EVAL, TRMT OF HIGH BP (JNC)
ACCUMULATION OF RESEARCH – FROM 1997 (7 YEARS)
NEW KNOWLEDGE HAS COME TO LIGHT FROM MANY NEW OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES AND CLINICAL TRIALS
Calvert County Health Department
Cardiovascular Health and Nutrition /
Fax:

2. 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure
“Silent Killer”
So…high blood pressure is a condition that most people will have at some point in their lives.
65 million adults have high blood pressure in this country.
1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure
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.
On the rise – 8 % increase in last decade…30% increase in number of adults in US
SIGNALS THE NEED FOR INCREASED EDUCATION TO REDUCE BP LEVELS WHICH IN TURN WILL REDUCE RISK OF CVD.
Dangerous – usually has no symptoms – subtle
AS POPULATION AGES, PREVELANCE OF HIGH BP WILL INCREASE FURTHER UNLESS EFFECTIVE PREVENTATIVE MEASURES ARE IMPLEMENTED. EDUCATION IS ONE OF THEM!

3. 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.

4. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls.
What Is Blood Pressure?
Each time the heart beats (about 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/
Top number 80
This is called DIASTOLIC pressure.
Bottom number
Your blood pressure is always given as these two numbers with one above or before the other.

5. What Is Normal Blood Pressure?
Category
Systolic
(Top Number)
Diastolic
(Bottom Number)
Normal
Less than 120
Less than 80
“Normal” blood pressure is when both numbers are lower than 120/80.
Doctors classify blood pressures under 140/90 as either "normal," or "prehypertension."
"Normal" blood pressures are lower than 120/80.

6. What Is High Blood Pressure?
“Hypertension”
A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered high blood pressure.
High Blood Pressure
Systolic
Diastolic
Stage 1
90-99
Stage 2
160 or higher
100 or higher
LIKE MANY DISEASES…THERE ARE STAGES, OR LEVELS. HIGH BP ALSO HAS STAGES.
STAGE 1 – NEED TO GET REGULAR MEDICAL CARE FROM DOCTOR
STAGE 2 – URGENCY HERE – SHOULD GET IN TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR THIS WEEK. GREATER RISK FOR STROKE, HEART ATTACK HERE.
* For adults 18 and older who:
Are not on medicine for high blood pressure
Are not having a short-term serious illness
Do not have other conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease
Note: When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 would be stage 2 high blood pressure. There is an exception to the above definition of high blood pressure. A blood pressure of 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure in persons with diabetes and chronic kidney disease.

7. What can high blood pressure do to your body?
High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke.
Stroke
Heart Attack
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results.
Blindness
High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleed. Vision may become blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness.
Heart failure
The heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs.
Kidney disease
Kidneys act as filters to rid the body of waste. High blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether.
Heart Attack - High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results.
Heart Failure -
As people get older, arteries throughout the body "harden," especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder.
Arteries

8. 2. EAT HEALTHY FOODS. Understanding Your Blood Pressure
1. GET YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKED.
2. EAT HEALTHY FOODS.
3. GET PLENTY OF EXERCISE.
MAIN MESSAGE – 1,2,3,
PREVENTION, PREVENTION, PREVENTION!!
YOU ARE IN CONTROL MOST HEART DISEASE RISK FACTORS
NOT IN CONTROL OF:
AGE
FAMILY HX
Our heart health depends on it!
Source: Your Guide To Lowering Blood Pressure,

9. Blood Pressure – An Overview
CAUSE
SYSTOLIC BP
CORRECTIVE ACTION
Sit without back support
+ 6 to 10
Support back (sit in chair)
Full bladder
+ 15
Empty bladder before BP taken
Tobacco/caffeine use
+ 6 to 11
Don’t use before clinic appointment
BP taken when arm is:
Parallel to body
Unsupported
Elbow too high
Elbow too low
+ 9 to 13
+ 1 to 7
+ 5
False low
While seated in chair, patient’s arm must be straight out and supported, with elbow at heart level
“White coat” reaction
+ 11 to 28
Have someone else take the BP
Talking or hand gestures
+ 7
No talking or use of hands during BP
Cuff too narrow/small
+ 8 to 10
Right-sized cuff properly placed over bare upper arm
Cuff too wide/large
Cuff not centered
+ 4
Cuff over clothing
+ 5 to 50
(Pickering et al., 2005; Perry & Potter, 2006)

10. Normal BP Measurements
AGE
Normal BP
Newborn to 6 weeks *
Systolic
Infant (6 weeks to 6 months) *
Systolic
Toddler ( 1 to 3 years) *
Systolic
Young Children ( 3 to 6 years)
Systolic
Older Children (10 to 14 years)
Systolic
Adults
Diastolic 80 or less
(Mosby’s Critical Care Nursing Reference, 2002; Perry & Potter, 2006)
(* BP is often not taken on children less than 3 years of age)