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What is Hypertension?
What is considered high blood pressure?
What to do if you have high blood pressure?
What Is Hypertension?
HYPERTENSION
Hypertension is basically a fancy medical name for high blood pressure.
When a person has high blood pressure it means that their heart is pumping
harder to move blood through the body. The arteries that carry the
blood around the body become tighter and more constricted. This causes
greater pressure on the walls of the arteries and over time hurts the blood
vessels, the kidneys and can even lead to blindness.
What Is Considered High Blood Pressure?
When you have your blood pressure measured, there are always two numbers.
The top number, systolic pressure, is when your heart is pumping.
The bottom number, diastolic pressure, is when your heart is resting. Everyone
should have his or her blood pressure measured, even children. Hypertension
does not only affect the elderly population. Below are the normal blood
pressure measurements based on age.
AGE: Newborn
Up to 70/45
5 years
Up to 115/75
6-12 years Up to
125/80
13-15 years Up to 126/78
16-18 years Up to 132/82
18 + years
Up to 139/89
What to Do If You Have High Blood Pressure?
If your health care provider tells you have high blood pressure, you
need to take it seriously. There are many steps you can follow to
help control your blood pressure.
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Watch your salt intake, there is a link between salt and hypertension.
Limit intake to less than 2400 mg a day. (See SODIUM/SALT for tips
on reducing salt intake)
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Quit smoking, it elevates blood pressure.
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Lose weight, just losing a few pounds helps to lower blood pressure.
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Get regular physical activity like walking, riding a bike or dancing.
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Eat a diet low in saturated fat. (See FAT for tips)
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Eat foods high in potassium, magnesium, calcium and Vitamin C, they have
heart healthy benefits. (See VITAMINS and MINERALS for foods)
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Limit alcohol to one drink per day.
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Manage stress.
References: The American Dietetic Association – http://www.eatright.org
Heart Center Online – www.heartcenteronline.com
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