To maintain good heart health, it is important to know your blood pressure measurements. You may be curious what blood pressure measurements mean. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls of our bodies. Blood pressure is written as two numbers; the top, systolic, number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom, diastolic, number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg.
High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms; that’s why it is so dangerous. However, it can be managed. Nearly half of the American population over the age of 20 has high blood pressure and doesn’t even know it. Not treating high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Make sure you get your blood pressure checked regularly and treat it the way your doctor advises.
There are risk factors that increase your chances of developing high blood pressure. Some you can control, while others you can’t. For the ones you can control, take action to keep your blood pressure in check. Those that can be controlled are:
- Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Diabetes
- Being obese or overweight
- High cholesterol
- Unhealthy diet (high in sodium, low in potassium, and drinking too much alcohol)
- Physical inactivity
There are so many ways to monitor your blood pressure nowadays. You can buy all kinds of smart watches, health trackers, rings, KardiaMobile devices, automatic blood pressure machines, manual blood pressure machines, and many more devices too numerous to list! The St. Therese Parish Nurse also takes blood pressure measurements on the first Thursday of the month at the Rambling Roses meetings. Keeping your blood pressure under control is very important to prevent your risk of strokes and heart attacks. Make a habit of checking it regularly, tracking your readings, and sharing them with your healthcare provider.
Adapted from the American Heart Association
