1. Blood Pressure

2. UNDERSTANDING BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing on your artery walls Pressure is highest during the heart beat Pressure is lowest in-between beats

3. KNOW YOUR NUMBERS Blood pressure 120 - systolic 80 - diastolic SYSTOLIC – The pressure in your arteries when the blood is pumped DIASTOLIC - The pressure in your arteries in between beats

4. 120/80 – Normal - Less than 120-139/80-89 – Pre-Hypertension 140-159/90-99 – Stage 1 Hypertension 160-or higher/100 or higher – Stage 2 Hypertension

5. What is Hypertension? High blood pressure makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body and causes damage to the blood vessels. If high blood pressure is not treated, it can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, and vision problems.

6. Blood Vessels

7. Managing High Blood Pressure Eat Healthy – DASH Diet – Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension – low in saturated fats, cholesterol and total fat Make small changes Keep a food Diary Read food Labels Limit Alcohol- women one drink / men 2 drinks a day

8. Managing High Blood Pressure Reduce Sodium (salt) – less than 1,500 mg a day, don’t add salt to food, eat fewer processed and prepackaged food/frozen meals, buy low/reduced sodium Exercise – 30-60 min, strength train, choose activities you enjoy, recruit friends Change Lifestyle – Overweight lose 10 lbs, quit smoking, manage stress. Follow Through – see doctor, take meds if needed, learn about high blood pressure