Hypertension - Steps to Awareness
How to Begin the Process of Blood Pressure Awareness and What to Do
Apr 8, 2009
Consider that you or a family member may have high blood pressure.This is significant since the leading cause of strokes and heart attacks is high blood pressure.
What is High Blood Pressure?
Before one may understand high blood pressure, it is necessary to know what blood pressure measures. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic (top) number is the maximum pressure in the vessels during contraction of the heart. The diastolic (bottom) number represents the pressure that remains in the arteries when the heart relaxes.
According to the Joint National Committee on Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNCV Report), normal blood pressure is classified as less than 130 mmHg systolic and less than 85 mmHg diastolic for an adult that is not taking anti-hypertensive drugs and not acutely ill.
High-normal is 130 mmHg to 139 mmHg systolic and 85-89 mmHg diastolic. Blood pressure readings of 140/90 or higher, based on an average of two or more readings taken on two or more visits, fall into four stages of hypertension ranging from mild to very severe. When systolic and diastolic readings fall into different categories, the higher category should be selected. For example an average reading of 136/95 is considered a high diastolic reading and should prompt one to visit the doctor.
Optimal blood pressure, with respect to cardiovascular risk, is less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.
Perspectives
Become aware. Log bp over three consecutive days. Awareness is a necessary prerequisite for change
- Schedule an appointment with physician if bp is high. Action is necessary for change.
- Start moving. Walk 30 minutes at an easy pace. Movement is life and in this case it could be a matter of life or death. Treat blood pressure seriously by honoring exercise. Contact doctor if breathless or unusual pain.
- Get ready mentally to make lifestyle and dietary c.hanges. Changing lifestyle is difficult. It takes strategic planning, strategic implementation, and strategic mindfulness in order to be successful.
- Know yourself. Know your strengths. Know your weaknesses. If strategic planning and implementing of new lifestyles has been problematic in the past, recognize it, acknowledge it, and move on to hiring a health professional that is trained in the area of wellness.
