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High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Blood pressure is the pressure created by the heart as it pumps blood through the arteries and the circulatory system.

What blood pressure numbers mean

Normal Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure

What High Blood Pressure Does to the Body

High blood pressure puts you at a higher risk for the following:

Symptoms

High blood pressure usually has NO SYMPTOMS!! Because of this it is sometimes referred to as "The Silent Killer"

How to tell if you might have high blood pressure:

Causes

Blood pressure develops when certain nerve impulses cause arteries to become larger (dilate) or smaller (contract). If vessels are wide open blood flows easily. If vessels narrow pressure inside increases causing hypertension. The cause of vessels narrowing is unknown in 90 to 95% of cases. This is called Primary Hypertension. In 5 to 10% of cases, the cause of vessel narrowing comes from another condition. This is called Secondary Hypertension. Some common conditions that can cause secondary hypertension are:

Risk Factors

Risk Factors You Can't Control

Uncontrollable risk factors are inherent to you and cannot be changed. They include:

Risk Factors You Can Control

Controllable risk factors are lifestyle choices that increase the risk of high blood pressure. They include:

Women and High Bood Pressure

Women are particularly at risk due to the following:

What You Can Do

High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled, but not cured. Controlling blood pressure will reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease. The following lifestyle changes will help you reduce your risk:

Ten Commandments for Blood Pressure Control

  1. Know your blood pressure. Have it checked regularly.
  2. Know what your weight should be. Keep it at that level or below.
  3. Don't use excessive salt in cooking or at meals. Avoid salty foods.
  4. Eat a low-fat diet
  5. According to AHA regulations, don't smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products.
  6. Take your medicine exactly as prescribed. Don't run out of pills even for a single day.
  7. Keep your appointments with the doctor.
  8. Follow your doctors advice about exercise.
  9. Make certain family members have their blood pressure checked regularly.
  10. Live a normal life in every other way!

Medication for High Blood Pressure

  1. Diuretics - Rid the body of excess fluids and salt.
  2. Beta-blockers - Reduce the heart rate and the work of the heart.
  3. Calcium antagonists - Reduce heart rate and relax blood vessels.
  4. Angiotensin II receptor blockers(ACE) - Interfere with the bodies production of angiotensin, a chemical that causes the arteries to constrict (narrow).
  5. Vasodialators - Cause the muscle in the wall of the blood vessels to relax, allowing the vessel to dialate (widen).
  6. Sympathetic nerve inhibitors - Sympathetic nerves go from the brain to all parts of the body, including the arteries. They cause arteries to constrict raising blood pressure. These drugs reduce blood pressure by inhibiting these nerves from constricting blood vessels.

Blood Pressure Measurement

Blood pressure is measured using a sphygmomanometer. There are two numbers in a bood pressure reading.

In order to get an accurate measurement, the size of the blood pressure cuff should be appropriate.

American Heart Association Recommended Blood Pressure Levels

BP Category Systolic (mmHg) Diastolic (mmHg) Follow-up
Optimal < 120

and

< 80 Recheck 2 years
Normal < 130 and < 85 Recheck 2 years
High, Normal 130 - 139 or 85 - 89 Recheck 1 year
Stage 1 (mild HTN) 140 - 159 or 90 - 99 Confirm within months
Stage 2 (moderate HTN) 160 - 179 or 100 - 109 Evaluate within 1 month
Stage 3 (severe HTN) 180 or > or 110 or > Evaluate immediately

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring

Mercury sphygmomanometer

Aneroid equipment

Automatic equipment

For more information:

Go to the High Blood Pressure health topic, where you can:

This article is a NetWellness exclusive. NetWellness Article

Last Reviewed: Apr 01, 2006

Case Western Reserve University Karen Kutoloski, DO
Director, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Assistant Professor
Heart and Vascular Center
MetroHealth Medical Center
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University
Karen Kutoloski, DO