Protect Your Heart! Prevent High Blood Pressure
National Institutes of Health National Heart,
Lung, and Blood Institute And Office of Research on Minority Health
Contents
- What is blood pressure?
- Is high blood pressure really a
big deal?
- Know your number.
- Prevent high blood pressure.
- Lower your high blood
pressure.
Anyone can develop high blood pressure, also called
hypertension. African Americans are at higher risk for this serious disease
than any other race or ethnic group. High blood pressure tends to be more
common, happens at an earlier age, and is more severe for many African
Americans. The good news is that high blood pressure can be controlledand
better yet, it can be prevented!
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against
your blood vessels. Your blood pressure is at its greatest when your heart
contracts and is pumping blood. This is systolic blood pressure. When your
heart rests between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is called diastolic
blood pressure. Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers: the
systolic and diastolic pressures. The numbers are usually written one above or
before the other, with systolic first, for example, 120/80.
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Is high blood pressure really
a big deal?
YES! When your blood pressure is high, your heart has
to work harder than it should to pump blood to all parts of the body. High
blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because most people feel healthy
and don¹t even know that they have it. If it is not treated, high blood
pressure can cause:
- stroke
- heart attack
- kidney problems
- eye problems
- death
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Know your number.
- Have your blood pressure checked. It is easy,
quick, and painless.
- Your blood pressure should be checked by your
health care provider at least once each year.
- If you have high blood pressure, it should be
checked more often. You can have your blood pressure checked at your
doctor¹s office, your neighborhood clinic, health fairs at your church, or
some shopping malls.
Check below to see where you fit in.
Blood pressure categories (adults
age 18 and over)
|
Category |
Systolic (mm/Hg) |
Diastolic (mm/Hg) |
Normal |
130 or less |
85 or less |
High normal |
130 -139 |
85 - 89 |
High blood pressure |
140 or more |
90 or more |
Strive for an optimal blood pressure of
120/80 or less. |
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Prevent high blood
pressure.
If your blood pressure is not high now, take steps to
prevent it from becoming high. Here¹s how:
Aim for a healthy weight.
- Choose foods lower in fat and calories.
- Eat smaller portions.
- Try not to gain extra weight. Lose weight if you
are overweight. Try losing weight slowly, about 1/2 to 1 pound each week until
you reach a healthy weight.
- Be physically active every day.
Eat less salt and sodium.
- Read the food label. Choose foods with less salt
and sodium.
- Prepare lower sodium meals from scratch instead of
using convenience foods that are high in sodium.
- Use spices, herbs, and salt free seasoning blends
instead of salt.
- Use only small amounts of cured or smoked meats for
flavor.
- Use less salt when cooking.
What else can you do? Add spice to your life.
When you cook, try adding herbs and spices instead of
salt.
Poultry, Fish,
Meat:
|
Poultry |
Ginger, rosemary, thyme, curry powder,
dill, sage, tarragon, oregano, cloves, orange rind |
Fish |
Curry powder, pepper, lemon juice, ginger,
marjoram, onion, paprika |
Pork |
Garlic, onion, sage, ginger, curry, cloves,
bay leaf, oregano |
|
|
Vegetables:
|
Greens |
Thyme, ginger, onion, dill, garlic |
Potatoes |
Garlic, pepper, paprika, thyme, onion,
sage |
Beans |
Thyme, onion, dill, cumin, oregano, garlic,
tarragon, rosemary |
Okra |
Garlic, pepper, thyme, onion |
|
Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables in meals and as
snacks.
- Add more vegetables to stews and casseroles.
- Serve fruit as a dessert more often.
Be active every day.
- Walk a little further each day or walk to the bus
stop.
- Dance, skip, jump, run . . . take every opportunity
to move your body.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
Cut back on alcoholic beverages.
- Alcohol raises blood pressure. Alcohol also adds
calories and may make it harder to lose weight. Men who drink should have no
more than two drinks a day. Women who drink should have no more than one drink
a day. Pregnant women should not drink any alcohol.
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Lower your high blood
pressure.
If you have high blood pressure, you may be able to
lower or keep your high blood pressure down. Practice these steps.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Be more active every day.
- Eat fewer foods high in salt and sodium.
- Cut back on alcoholic beverages.
You may also need medicine to lower your high blood
pressure. Tell your doctor about any medicine you are already taking.
Follow these tips if you take medicine:
- Take your medicine the way your doctor tells you.
To help you remember, plan to take your medicine at the same time every day.
- Tell the doctor right away if the medicine makes
you feel strange or sick. The doctor may make changes in your medicine.
- Make sure you don¹t miss any days. Refill your
prescription before you use up your medicine.
- Have your blood pressure checked often to be sure
your medicine is working the way you and your doctor planned.
- Don¹t stop taking your medicine if your blood
pressure is okay--that means the medicine is working.
Empower yourself!
Keep a record
of your blood pressure. |
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reading |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
Goal
_______________________________________ |
Check what you will do to prevent
or lower your high blood pressure. Try to do them
all.
|
|
Maintain a healthy weight. |
|
Be more active every day. |
|
Eat fewer foods high in salt and sodium. |
|
Eat more fruits and vegetables. |
|
Cut back on the number of alcoholic beverages, if
you drink. |
|
Have blood pressure checked. |
|
Take medicine the way the doctor says. |
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES Public Health Service National Institutes of
Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute NIH Publication No.
97-4062 September 1997
|