Blood Pressure
and Your Health

YOUR GUIDE TO:♥♥ Blood pressure basics♥♥ The danger of high blood pressure♥♥ Steps to avoid or lower highblood pressure

“I started measuring myblood pressure at homeafter I learned how
important blood pressure
is to my health.”

BLOOD PRESSURE BASICS

What is blood pressure?

In This Guide You Will Find:

Blood pressure is the force ofblood moving through yourarteries. Arteries are theblood vessels that carry bloodfrom your heart to the rest of
your body.

♥♥ Blood pressure basics♥♥ What can lead to highblood pressure?
♥♥ Do you have highblood pressure?
♥♥ Are you taking medicine

for high blood pressure?
♥♥ Everyday steps forhealthy blood pressure

What do blood pressure numbers measure?
Blood pressure is measured with 2 numbers. An example
is shown below.
The top number measures the forceof blood in your arteries when yourheart contracts (beats). This iscalled systolic (sis-TA-lik) pressure.
The bottom number measures theforce of blood in your arteries while
your heart is relaxed (filling withblood between beats). This is called
diastolic (die-a-STAH-lik) pressure.

What is a “good” blood pressure reading?
Blood pressure lower than or equal to 120/80 is ideal.
For people with diabetes or kidney disease, blood pressure
lower than 130/80 is good. Lower than 120/80 is ideal.

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BLOOD PRESSURE BASICS

What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is when your blood pressure is usuallyhigher than it should be. It is also called hypertension. It’s like a
car tire with too much air in it. If the tire pressure is not lowered,
there is risk for tire damage. If your high blood pressure is notlowered, there is risk for damage to your eyes, brain, heart,
blood vessels, and kidneys.

Blood pressure measures and what they mean
Type ofblood pressure

Measure (mm Hg)

What the measuremeans for you

NormalLess than 120/80
Talk with yourdoctor if you
have diabetes orkidney disease.

Even a small risein either number
increases risk forheart disease
and stroke.

120/80 - 140/90

May lead to higher
blood pressure. Talk
with your doctor
about steps you cantake to lower yourblood pressure.

140/90 and higher

Needs treatment.
See your doctor if
blood pressure isalways high.

Prehypertension

High bloodpressure(hypertension)

It is important to check your blood pressure
High blood pressure has no symptoms. It is considered a silent
condition. Over time, it can damage your heart and otherorgans. Talk with your doctor about how often to have yourblood pressure checked.

2

CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS A CHECK AWAYWHAT CAN LEAD TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

Are you at risk for having high blood pressure?
This list can help you know if you are at risk for high bloodpressure. Put a checkmark next to the statements that
apply to you:❏❏ I am older than 50 years❏❏ I am overweight or obese❏❏ I smoke❏❏ I have diabetes❏❏ I have kidney disease❏❏ I am African American❏❏ I am Hispanic or Latino/Latina❏❏ I am a man who drinks more than 1 ounce ofalcohol per day❏❏ I am a woman who drinks more than half an ounceof alcohol per day❏❏ A member of my family (mother, father, or other)has high blood pressure

The more checkmarks you made, the greater the chance thatyou may have high blood pressure now or in the future. Talkwith your doctor about steps you can take to avoid or control
high blood pressure. Some of these steps are listed on page 7.

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3

DO YOU HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

Try these action steps for controllinghigh blood pressure♥♥ Go to your doctor or health clinic fora checkup, which includes a bloodpressure reading. Make and keep
your appointments♥♥ Work closely with your healthcare

team. Many doctors, nurses, andother medical professionals can help
you manage your blood pressure♥♥ Check your blood pressure regularlyat home. Record your readings andshare them with your doctor. Seepage 8 for how to take your bloodpressure at homeHigh blood pressure can be controlled with medicine andlifestyle changes. Along with the steps above, see page 7
for other steps you can take every day.

High blood pressure can cause a stroke
A stroke happens when a blood vessel leaks or is blocked bya clot. Then part of the brain does not get enough oxygen.
This can cause brain damage, which may be permanent andlife changing. Many effects from a stroke can be successfully
treated. Lowering blood pressure can help prevent strokes.

4CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS A CHECK AWAYARE YOU TAKING MEDICINE FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?

If you are just starting medicine forhigh blood pressureYour doctor may prescribe 1 or more bloodpressure medicines for you.
There are many types of blood pressure
medicines. Some remove extra fluid andsalt from the body to lower blood pressure.
Others slow down the heartbeat andwiden blood vessels. Talk with your doctor
to learn about the kinds of medicine you
are taking.
It is important to know that:♥♥ You must take your medicine every day as directed byyour doctor♥♥ Even if you don’t feel like the medicine is working, it is♥♥ If you have uncomfortable side effects, continue taking

your medicine. Talk with your doctor about managing
side effects♥♥ Sometimes medicine can be costly. Talk with yourdoctor about medicine that fits your budget

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5

A healthy lifestyle
can help you lower
your blood pressure

If you are already taking medicine for high blood pressure
About half of people with high blood pressure take 2 or more
medicines to control their blood pressure.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take and the timeof day you take them.
It is important that you take your blood pressure medicine everyday. If you stop taking your medicine, your blood pressure willgo back up. Remember, high blood pressure raises the chanceof damage to your heart.
Don’t wait for signs of damage. Take the steps to take controlof your high blood pressure.

6

CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS A CHECK AWAYEVERYDAY STEPS FOR HEALTHY BLOOD PRESSURE

6 steps to help control blood pressure
Here are 6 steps that can help you lower high blood pressure.
They can also help you create a healthy lifestyle. For best results,
try to do as many as you can.
Ask your doctor or nurse for help to make these changes. It may
be easier for you to make 1 change first. Put a check next to thehealthy step you plan to try.

❏❏ 1. Follow a healthy eating plan. See page 9 for healthyeating tips.

❏❏ 2. Get to and stay at a healthy weight. Talk with your 		doctor about getting to a weight that’s right for you.

❏❏ 3. Eat less salt. Read food labels to find out how much 		sodium (salt) you eat every day. Aim to eat less than
1500 mg of sodium per day.

❏❏ 4. Exercise. Try to be active every day. Walk as much 		as you can. Every step counts!

❏❏ 5. Stop smoking. Ask for help to quit.
❏❏ 6. Take your blood pressure at home. Keep track of 		
your numbers. See the next page for how to do this.

Remember, the more healthy steps you take, the better it is foryour blood pressure and your health. Add others until they are
all a part of your life.

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7

TAKE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE EVERY DAY

It’s important to check and record your numbers
To take your blood pressure at home, you will need a home bloodpressure monitor. You can buy one at your local pharmacy ordepartment store.
Try to take your blood pressure at the same time every day.
Here are some tips for getting true blood pressure measures:
Before taking your blood pressure:♥♥ Avoid smoking, caffeine, or exercise for 30 minutes♥♥ Sit down and relax for at least 5 minutes. If you don’t,your blood pressure result may not be true♥♥ Use a properly sized cuff. A cuff that fits incorrectly may

also give a measure that is not true
How to take your blood pressure:

1. Sit down with both feet flat on the floor and your backup against the chair.

2. Wrap the blood pressure monitor cuff above your elbow.
3. Rest your arm on a table. Your upper arm should be atheart level.

4. Don’t talk while you take your blood pressure.
5. Follow the instructions that came with your monitor.
6. Take your blood pressure and write down the results.
Wait a few moments, take it again, and write down
the results.

7. Record the results, as directed by your doctor.
Share your results with your doctor at your next appointment.

8CONTROLLING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE IS A CHECK AWAYTake steps toward healthy eating
Healthy eating habits are important for controlling blood pressure.
One healthy habit is using low-salt options in snacks and meals.
Remember to look at food labels for sodium (salt) content. Healthy
foods also provide nutrients that help lower blood pressure.
See the chart below for other healthy eating tips.

Healthy habits for everyday eating
Try to eat less often:

Try more often:

Sweetened soda or juice

Water or club soda with awedge of lemon

Buttered and salted popcorn

Fruit, vegetable sticks,
unbuttered and unsalted
popcorn, or rice cakes

Sweetened whole milkyogurt

Add fruit to fat-free or
low-fat yogurt

Salty snack foods

Fruits or vegetables

Canned, smoked, orprocessed poultry, fish,and meatFresh poultry, fish,
and lean meat

Instant or flavored rice,
pasta, and cereal mixes

Rice, pasta, and hot cereals
cooked without salt

The DASH* diet offers many tips for healthy eating.
To learn how it can help you, talk with your doctor.
Or visit http://dashdiet.org.

*Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.

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9

“I’m protecting myhealth by lowering
my blood pressure.”

Flip page over for Questions to Ask Your DoctorTALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR

Questions to ask your doctor
Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor.
Bring this page with you to your next doctor appointment
so that you can take notes.
How does my blood pressure medicine work?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Does my blood pressure medicine have side effects?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________How do I take my blood pressure at home?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________How often should I take my blood pressure at home?
____________________________________________________________
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Sources for more information about blood pressure
American Society of Hypertension (ASH)(866) 696-9099
www.ash-us.org
Visit the ASH Web site for more information about theHypertension Community Outreach Program.
American Heart Association (AHA)(800) 242-8721 (AHA-USA1)
www.hearthub.org
Visit the AHA high blood pressure health center(http://www.hearthub.org/hc-high-blood-pressure.htm)
for information about blood pressure and how to manage it.
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute(301) 592-8573
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Visit the Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure interactive
Web site (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp) for information
about how to prevent and lower high blood pressure.

The Society gratefully acknowledges PepsiCo, Inc. for its support ofthis pamphlet.
The Society also gratefully acknowledges Forest Pharmaceuticals,Inc., and HoMedics, Inc., for their continued support of the ASH
Hypertension Community Outreach Program.
©2010 American Society of Hypertension, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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