CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE

 

By:  Shelley Placito, MSW

 

Blood pressure is the force that pushes blood from the heart though the rest of your body. High blood pressure can cause chest pain, a heart attack, stroke and even kidney problems.  The heart is forced to work harder and over time can get larger and lose strength.  The arteries carrying blood away from the heart can become damaged making it more difficult to circulate blood through them.  High blood pressure sometimes runs in families but can also be caused by or made worse by poor diet and poor exercise habits.

 

Blood pressure is measured in two numbers.  The top number, the systolic, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is pumping.  The bottom number, the diastolic, is a measurement of the pressure on the arteries when the heart is at rest.

 

A systolic of 140 or greater or a diastolic of 90 or greater is an indication of higher than normal blood pressure.  This means that your body is at risk for the serious medical problems listed above.

 

What can we do to prevent or treat high blood pressure?

 

Diet – Eat foods that are low in fat and cholesterol.  Stay away from salt.  Increase your intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains.  Food should be baked, broiled or steamed.  Not fried.

 

Exercise – Walking, bicycling and swimming are all good exercises.  With your doctor’s approval, you should exercise for at least thirty minutes a day, three days a week.  Build up to one hour workouts, five times per week.

 

Weight Control – Being overweight will cause your heart to work harder.  You should strive to keep your weight within a limit suggested by your physician.

 

Medication – Your physician may put you on one or more medications to control your blood pressure.  Anti-Hypertensive medications come in several different forms.  Ace Inhibitors, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers and Diuretics are all used to control blood pressure.  Your doctor may prescribe one or more of these medications to control your pressure.  Be sure to take your medication precisely as directed by your physician.

 

Habits – If you smoke, you should speak with your physician about smoking cessation programs.    There are many resources available which can assist you in breaking the smoking habit.  It is never too late to quit.

 

See your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment if you believe you have high blood pressure.