Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure that blood exerts against the walls of blood vessels as it is pumped through the circulatory system.

When the heart contracts, the force of blood against artery walls increases. This force, or pressure, is called systolic pressure, and it is the number at the top of a blood pressure reading.

By the same token, when the heart relaxes between beats it causes the pressure against artery walls to decrease.  The second pressure is called diastolic pressure, and is the number at the bottom of a blood pressure reading.

Normal Blood Pressure:     90 - 139     mm Hg

                                        60 – 89      mm Hg

High Blood Pressure:      140 or more

                                               90 or more

Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.

The cause of hypertension is unknown in more than 90% of patients.

Anybody can have hypertension.  It’s one of the most common medical conditions affecting about one in every ten people.

There are some risk factors that increase the chances for a person to develop hypertension.  They are:

• Obesity

• Lack of exercise

• Alcohol consumption

• Tobacco use

• Diabetes mellitus

• Hereditary, gender, age, and the race

Hypertension is a “silent” disease, and “a silent killer”. More than 50% of the patients with hypertension do not have any symptoms.  They are not aware of having BP or feel their disease.

However, hypertension can damage several vital organs of the body and lead to heart failure, stroke, heart attack, kidney failure, clogged arteries and blindness to mention a few.

You can help yourself to control your BP by making changes in your lifestyle:

• Control your weight if overweight or obese.  The weight loss reduces the workload of the heart by lowering resistance to blood flow.  Even 10 pounds of weight loss can help lower your BP.

• Decrease your salt intake by avoiding high sodium foods.  You may need a low sodium diet. Shake the salt habit and eat right. This decreases fluid retention in the blood.

• Exercise regularly, at least three times a week for 30 minutes each.  Aerobic exercise helps lower body weight and body fat, helps control BP, and helps reduce stress.

• Avoid alcohol.  Too much alcohol can raise your BP.

• Don’t smoke.  Hypertension and tobacco don’t mix.

Medications

If the above changes are not enough to control your BP, your doctor may prescribe medications.  You may need more than one medication for hypertension.

• Remember to take your medication at the same time every day

• Use a pill box with sections for different times of the day

• Take your hypertension medicine as directed

• Talk to your doctor if you think your medication is causing side effects

• Never stop taking your medication without your doctor’s permission

• Always refill your medication before it runs out

• Monitor your blood pressure regularly

• See your physician for regular checkups

For patients with long-term kidney disease and diabetes, the goal is to keep the BP <130/80 mm Hg. (JNC 7 BP Treatment Guidelines).