High Blood Pressure - The Facts

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Every time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries.

Blood pressure measurements contain two numbers. The top number is called systolic blood pressure and measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart pumps blood (contracts). The lower number is called the diastolic pressure and measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure or hypertension is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher.

*American Heart Association recommended blood pressure levels.

High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, and is often referred to as the Silent Killer. The incidence of high blood pressure is more common in people over the age of 35 years, and the risk increases with age. High blood pressure increases the stress on the heart and arteries which increases the risk of:

• Heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Blindness

High blood pressure management

High blood pressure can be managed by a range of lifestyle modifications including:

• Losing weight
• Increasing physical activity
• Reducing salt (sodium) in the diet
• Decreasing saturated fats in the diet
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing or eliminating caffeine intake

A range of medications are also available to effectively treat high blood pressure. These medications include; diuretics, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, and calcium channel blockers. The medications reduce blood pressure in different ways, yet they all aim to reduce the pressure and stress on the arteries.

Home blood pressure monitors are recommended to monitor blood pressure readings on a regular basis to gain an accurate picture of blood pressure levels and to monitor the success of a treatment regime.

Patients can either record their readings on paper or a spreadsheet or use special software like www.my-blood-pressure.com which enables patients to print off a chart and email information to their Doctor.

Sources and Further Reading

• The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute (NHBLI)
• The American Heart Association (AHA)
• The National Heart Foundation Australia