You Can

Regulate Your Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure Explained

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the artery walls as the heart pumps and when it relaxes.

Your blood pressure can change from minute to minute to meet your body’s needs.  It’s affected by activity, rest, body temperature, diet, emotions and medications.

What the Numbers Mean

A blood pressure reading is recorded by two numbers:

  • Systolic – the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (at the time of a heartbeat)
  • Diastolic – the pressure in the arteries during relaxation of the heart between heart beats

The American Heart Association divides blood pressure readings into the following categories:

Category Systolic (Upper Number) and/or Diastolic (Lower Number)
Normal Less than 120 and Less than 80
Elevated 120 – 129 and Less than 80
Hypertension: Stage 1 130 – 139 or 80 – 89
Hypertension: Stage 2 140 or Higher or 90 or Higher
Hypertensive Crisis Higher than 180 and/or Higher than 120

Are you concerned about your blood pressure? Contact your primary care office  or call (800) 737-7900 to schedule an appointment. You can also request appointments through your MyChart account.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure is when the force of the blood moving through the blood vessels is consistently too high.

Hypertension is one of the most common health problems in the United States, almost half of American adults have it and many of them aren’t even aware that they have the condition.
If left untreated, elevated blood pressure can damage arteries and veins.

It can also increase your risk of developing serious conditions link:

Symptoms

Unlike most health conditions that have warning signs, high blood pressure rarely has noticeable symptoms – which is how it earned the name “the silent killer”.

Without symptoms, high blood pressure may go for years without being diagnosed. The only way to know for sure if you have it is to have it checked by your healthcare provider.

If you have concerns about your blood pressure but don’t currently have a primary care provider, go to our website to find a provider near you or call (800)737-7900.

Causes

The exact cause of high blood pressure is unclear. There are several factors like underlying health conditions or unhealthy lifestyle choices that contribute to this disorder. They include:

Prevention

According to the American Heart Association, the ways to manage blood pressure are also ways you can help prevent it.

Taking high blood pressure seriously and following your doctor’s treatment instructions can lower your risks of serious complications and make a big difference in your overall health.

If you have uncontrolled high blood pressure or think you might be at risk, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider today.

You Can Be a Healthier You

Call Us

For more information about Take Time for Your Heart or other Heart & Vascular Prevention and Wellness services, call
(859) 301-WELL (9355) today.