Heart health and high blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) raises your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is called "the silent killer" because it does not have any symptoms. The only way to know you have it is to have your blood pressure checked by a doctor.
Why high blood pressure matters
Blood pressure measures the amount of force it takes to move blood through your blood vessels. If the pressure is high, your heart has to work harder. This causes stress on your heart and other organs in your body. It is that stress which increases your risk for heart problems.
Do you have high blood pressure?
If your doctor has not said anything to you, ask. Blood pressure is checked at every doctor visit.
Most doctors believe your blood pressure should be less than 140 over 90 (140/90). The first number, the "systolic," is the pressure when the heart beats and pushes your blood. The second number, the "diastolic," should be lower because it measures pressure when the heart is resting between beats. Your doctor will be concerned if either number is higher than it should be.
Blood pressure categories
(adults 18 and older) |
|---|
| Category |
Systolic (mm/Hg) |
Diastolic (mm/Hg) |
| Normal |
130 or less |
85 or less |
| High-Normal |
130 to 139 |
85 to 89 |
| High |
140 or more |
90 or more |
For diabetics and those who are naturally at risk for high blood pressure such as African-Americans, doctors may want to see blood pressure readings below 140/90. An optimal reading is 120/80 or less.
What can you do about high blood pressure?
The good news is, high blood pressure can be controlled through diet, exercise and medication. Your doctor will help you make the best decisions for your specific situation. To reduce your high blood pressure, you may need to:
Change your diet
Increase your activity level
- Take the stairs
- Walk, swim, bike or dance®
- Clean house, walk the dog, work in the yard
Quit smoking
Smoking causes your blood vessels to narrow, which makes your heart work harder, increasing your blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, smoking makes it worse. Talk to your doctor about ways to help you stop smoking. You can find more help on this website, here:
- Free Priority Health wellness classes
- Priority Health's Tobacco Cessation program
- Log in to your personal Priority Health account and check out the WebMD® tobacco cessation tools that can help you stop smoking.
Set goals
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