Do I Have High Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure has been referred to as the silent killer because in most cases there are no symptoms.
However in resent years patients with high blood pressure, also know as Hypertension, have reported symptoms such as chest pain, confusion, ear noise or buzzing, irregular heartbeat, tiredness and vision changes.
Hypertension is not a disease but is more a Risk Factor, which if left untreated increases the probability of heart attacks and strokes; both a frequent cause of death in our country.
Therefore it's important to check your blood pressure (BP) regularly.
Doctors check your BP at each office visit and if you have been diagnosed with hypertension your doctor may recommend you monitor your BP at home with a blood pressure monitor.
Now lets get a better understand of what hypertension is.
While blood pressure can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or even sleep, a normal reading should be less than 120 over 80 mm Hg for an adult age 20 years or older.
The first number is your Systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats.
The second number is your Diastolic pressure, the pressure inside the blood vessels when the heart is at rest between beats.
If you have multiple reading with your Systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or your Diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 you are considered Pre-hypertension and most likely to develop hypertension.
If reading stay at 140 over 90 or above over time you have Hypertension and your doctor will likely want you to make some life changes and often prescribe medication to get your BP under control.
Life changes prescribe by you doctor may include losing weight if you are overweight, because excess weight put a strain on your heart.
Exercising regularly is also a highly recommended part of your treatment.
Just exercising for 30 minutes on most days will make a big difference.
Eating the right foods is also important.
Eating fruits, vegetables, and lowing your fat intake especially saturated fat will be very helpful.
Avoiding alcoholic drinks, smoking and managing your stress is also recommended for improving your overall health.
It's important for people with hypertension to keep track of their BP.
Your doctor will check your BP during each doctor visit.
In addition he or she may ask you to check your pressure on a regular bases at home with a blood pressure monitor and keep a record for him or her to review at your next doctor visit.
Monitoring your own pressure at home with a blood pressure monitor is a great way to assist your doctor in overseeing your progress and to make sure the treatment is working for you.
Monitoring your BP at home is simple with the right blood pressure monitor.
There are both Upper Arm and Wrist blood pressure monitors, which you can use to monitor your pressure at home.
There are automatic monitors with a silent one-touch operation and 40% faster reading.
Some monitors have up to a 60-memory reading storage capacity and 3 reading averaging for easy tracking of your BP.
One blood pressure monitor has a 2-person memory feature with up to 90-memory reading storage capacity for each person.
This is a great monitor for two people to use, or if your doctor wants you to keep a record of your BP twice each day.
However in resent years patients with high blood pressure, also know as Hypertension, have reported symptoms such as chest pain, confusion, ear noise or buzzing, irregular heartbeat, tiredness and vision changes.
Hypertension is not a disease but is more a Risk Factor, which if left untreated increases the probability of heart attacks and strokes; both a frequent cause of death in our country.
Therefore it's important to check your blood pressure (BP) regularly.
Doctors check your BP at each office visit and if you have been diagnosed with hypertension your doctor may recommend you monitor your BP at home with a blood pressure monitor.
Now lets get a better understand of what hypertension is.
While blood pressure can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or even sleep, a normal reading should be less than 120 over 80 mm Hg for an adult age 20 years or older.
The first number is your Systolic pressure, the pressure created when your heart beats.
The second number is your Diastolic pressure, the pressure inside the blood vessels when the heart is at rest between beats.
If you have multiple reading with your Systolic pressure between 120 and 139 or your Diastolic pressure between 80 and 89 you are considered Pre-hypertension and most likely to develop hypertension.
If reading stay at 140 over 90 or above over time you have Hypertension and your doctor will likely want you to make some life changes and often prescribe medication to get your BP under control.
Life changes prescribe by you doctor may include losing weight if you are overweight, because excess weight put a strain on your heart.
Exercising regularly is also a highly recommended part of your treatment.
Just exercising for 30 minutes on most days will make a big difference.
Eating the right foods is also important.
Eating fruits, vegetables, and lowing your fat intake especially saturated fat will be very helpful.
Avoiding alcoholic drinks, smoking and managing your stress is also recommended for improving your overall health.
It's important for people with hypertension to keep track of their BP.
Your doctor will check your BP during each doctor visit.
In addition he or she may ask you to check your pressure on a regular bases at home with a blood pressure monitor and keep a record for him or her to review at your next doctor visit.
Monitoring your own pressure at home with a blood pressure monitor is a great way to assist your doctor in overseeing your progress and to make sure the treatment is working for you.
Monitoring your BP at home is simple with the right blood pressure monitor.
There are both Upper Arm and Wrist blood pressure monitors, which you can use to monitor your pressure at home.
There are automatic monitors with a silent one-touch operation and 40% faster reading.
Some monitors have up to a 60-memory reading storage capacity and 3 reading averaging for easy tracking of your BP.
One blood pressure monitor has a 2-person memory feature with up to 90-memory reading storage capacity for each person.
This is a great monitor for two people to use, or if your doctor wants you to keep a record of your BP twice each day.
Source...