Healthwise [Winter/Spring 1995]

              Winter/Spring 1995
The lowdown on high blood pressure 	
High blood pressure contributes       risk group. If you have a family history
to more than 800,000 deaths a year.
Known as the silent killer, it affects
approximately one in four American
adults and two out of three adults
over age 65. If left untreated, high
blood pressure can damage the muscles
of the heart and increase the risk of
heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
Known medically as hypertension, it's
defined as above-normal pressure on
the artery walls.
It remains a silent killer because
there are no obvious symptoms. Many
people don't realize that their blood
pressure is above normal limits until
they have suffered heart damage. The
extra pressure puts a strain on the
heart as it works to keep blood flowing
through the body.
Fortunately, medication, diet,
exercise and other lifestyle improvements
can lower high blood pressure. Earlier
and better treatment of high blood
pressure has significantly reduced the
number of deaths from heart disease.
Check it out.
You should get your blood
pressure checked every two years -
and more often if you are in a high-
of high blood pressure or are overweight,
diabetic or of African-American descent,
your chances of developing high
blood pressure are increased. Smokers
and those who drink large amounts
of alcohol are also at greater risk.
What do the numbers mean?
Your blood pressure depends on
several factors, including output from
your heart, resistance to blood flow
by your blood vessels and the amount
of blood you have and how it's
distributed to your various organs.
Blood pressure measurements
are expressed as fractions such as
120/80 ("120 over 80"). The top
number, 120 in this case, is your
systolic pressure - the pressure within
the arteries when your heart is pumping.
The bottom number is the diastolic
pressure - the pressure in the arteries
when your heart is resting between beats.
A CHANGE FOR
THE BETTER
While there is no cure for
high blood pressure, once it is
detected, it can be controlled. So
be sure to have your blood
pressure checked regularly if
you're in a high-risk group and
consider the following:
> Maintain a healthy weight
A diet with no more than
30 percent of calories from fat
helps reduce blood cholesterol
levels. High blood cholesterol
levels can contribute to
atherosclerosis (hardening of
the arteries), a disease aggravated
by hypertension.
>■ Quit smoking
Nicotine triggers the body
to release adrenalin which
constricts blood vessels and
raises blood pressure.
>■ Exercise regularly
Regular activity helps
reduce stress, burn excess
calories and strengthen the
heart and circulatory system.
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A Publication for the Friends of The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital