1. UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
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
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
“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.
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. “Prehypertension” NEW!!! 138/82 118/78 128/89 Top Number Bottom Number
80-89
Prehypertension
Which of the following blood pressure readings are considered “prehypertensive”?
138/82
118/78
128/89
EXPLAIN - THIS IS PART OF THE NEW BODY OF RESEARCH – WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS NORMAL IS NOW CONSIDERED PREHYPERTENSIVE – YOU ARE AT RISK AND CAN DEVELOP HIGH BP UNLESS YOU TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT IT.
"Prehypertension" is blood pressure between 120 and 139 for the top number, or between 80 and 89 for the bottom number. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/89, or 130/86 are all in the "prehypertension" range. If your blood pressure is in the prehypertension range, it is more likely that you will end up with high blood pressure unless you take action to prevent it.
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.

7. Unless you take ACTION to prevent it!
“Prehypertension”
If your blood pressure is in the prehypertensive range:
Prehypertension
80-89
It means that you don’t have high blood pressure now, but you are likely to develop it in the future.
Unless you take ACTION to prevent it!
WE’LL TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE ACTIONS HERE IN A FEW MINUTES.

8. What Is High Blood Pressure?
When blood pressure stays elevated over a long period of time it is called high blood pressure or “hypertension”.
TENSE, SUDDEN EXERTION – CAN ELEVATE YOUR BP TEMPORARILY,
EX: “WHITECOAT HYPERTENSION”
HIGH BP IS WHEN IT IS ELEVATED OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME
CHECK REGULARLY - RECORD WHAT YOUR BP IS.
SHOW BP CARDS
High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard and contributes to hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis).

9. 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.

10. High Blood Pressure Warning Signs: “Silent Killer” 1. 2. 3. 4.
If undetected or left untreated it can cause:
Heart failure
Heart attack
Kidney disease
Blindness

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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 you drink alcoholic beverages, drink in moderation
Maintaining a healthy weight
Choose and prepare foods with less salt x
Eat a healthy diet rich in vegetables and fruits, and low fat dairy foods
Get physically active
If you smoke, think about quitting
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. It also can harm the liver, brain, and heart. Alcoholic drinks also contain calories, which matter if you are trying to lose weight. If you drink alcoholic beverages, have only a moderate amount — one drink a day for women; two drinks a day for men.
What counts as a drink?
12 ounces of beer (regular or light, 150 calories), or 5 ounces of wine (100 calories), or 1 ounces of 80-proof whiskey (100 calories).
SALT
A key to healthy eating is choosing foods lower in salt and sodium. Most Americans consume more salt than they need. The current recommendation is to consume less than 2.4 grams (2,400 milligrams[mg] ) of sodium a day. That equals 6 grams (about 1 teaspoon) of table salt a day. The 6 grams include ALL salt and sodium consumed, including that used in cooking and at the table. For someone with high blood pressure, the doctor may advise eating less salt and sodium, as recent research has shown that people consuming diets of 1,500 mg of sodium had even better blood pressure lowering benefits. These lower-sodium diets also can keep blood pressure from rising and help blood pressure medicines work better.
Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure

14. 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,