My Healthy Heart Articles
Blood Pressure 101
11/28/07
Disease Basics
High blood pressure—the very phrase is enough to, well, make your blood pressure rise. Recent estimates published on the American Heart Association Web site indicate that one in three Americans live with high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Because high blood pressure typically has no symptoms, only one-third of those people know they have high blood pressure. Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure can wreak havoc on the kidneys, brain, and heart. Luckily, there are simple ways to test and monitor changes in blood pressure to avoid permanent health issues.
What is Blood Pressure?
The pressure exerted on artery walls as the heart pumps blood through the body is what is known as blood pressure. There are two types, both of which contribute to a blood pressure reading. The first, systolic blood pressure, is when blood pressure is at its highest, every time the heart beats. The second, diastolic pressure, is measured when the heart is at rest. It is measured in milligrams of mercury (mm Hg). Those two measurements together represent a blood pressure reading. For example, if a person's systolic blood pressure is 120 and his or her diastolic pressure is 80, his or her official blood pressure reads 120/80 mm Hg, or 120 over 80.
How is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure can be easily measured at the doctor's office. The American Heart Association recommends that people have their blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Medical professionals can quickly measure blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer. By wrapping and inflating a cuff around the upper arm, blood flow is temporarily stopped. When the blood is released, the medical professional listens with a stethoscope to the sound the blood makes as it passes through the artery. There is a different sound associated with systolic pressure than diastolic. According to the American Heart Association, a normal blood pressure is anything less than 120/80 mm Hg.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Any blood pressure reading that is greater than 140/90 mm Hg is undesirable. High blood pressure means the blood pushes harder against the artery walls and the blood does not flow as well. In many cases, the cause of high blood pressure is unknown. However, high blood pressure will develop as arteries narrow and constrict blood flow.
Certain people are more at risk of developing high blood pressure than others. They include:
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Overweight or obese adults
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Men older than 45 and women older than 55
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People with a family history of high blood pressure and certain ethnicities
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People who are pre-hypertensive with blood pressure falling between 120–139/80–89 mmHg
While many of these risk factors cannot be controlled, simple lifestyle choices can have a great impact on controlling and managing high blood pressure.
How Does High Blood Pressure Affect the Body?
Managing high blood pressure is important to maintaining overall health. Of all the effects high blood pressure has on the body, the most significant is the increased workload it causes the heart. Because the blood is harder to pump, the heart must work harder to supply the body with the necessary blood flow. Over time, the strain can cause heart disease, heart failure, increase risk of stroke, and kidney failure. Managing high blood pressure is an important piece in building a healthy life.
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