2. One in three U.S adults have high blood pressure. Because there are no symptoms, nearly one third of these people do NOT know they have it! American Heart Association

3.  The pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries.

4.  A sphygmomanometer

5.  Systolic Pressure ◦ The force in the arteries when the heart beats  Diastolic Pressure ◦ The force in the arteries when the heart is at rest 120 80

6.  Don’t have coffee, alcohol or cigarettes for 30 minutes before going in to have your blood pressure taken.  Sit for five minutes with back supported and feet flat  Wear a shirt with short sleeves so that the sphygmomanometer touches your skin  Don’t talk while taking the reading  Get two readings and then figure the average of them

7.  The condition in which blood pressure levels are above the normal range.

8.  is the number one risk factor for stroke  contributes to ◦ heart attacks ◦ heart failure ◦ kidney failure ◦ atherosclerosis  is more common among people over 35

9.  Controllable Risk Factors ◦ Stress ◦ Obesity ◦ Too much salt intake ◦ Drinking too much alcohol ◦ Smoking  Uncontrollable Risk Factors ◦ Race ◦ Heredity ◦ Age

10.  Adults 55 + have a 90% risk of developing high blood pressure.  Hypertension affects 67% of diabetics.  In 90-95% of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown.  Hypertension nationally accounts for $66.4 billion in healthcare costs.

11. Monitor your blood pressure Limit alcohol Quit smoking Take medication, if prescribed

12.  Eat a healthy diet  Maintain a healthy weight  Be active 30 minutes per day

13.  Use fresh poultry, lean meat, and fish  Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasonings  Buy fresh, frozen, or canned “no salt added” vegetables  Rinse canned foods to reduce sodium  Choose convenience food low in salt

14.  Diuretics  Beta blockers  ACE inhibitors  Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers  Calcium Channel Blockers  Alpha blocker  Alpha-beta blockers  Nervous system inhibitors  Vasodilators

15. American Heart Association National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Mayo Clinic Resources for Good Health