• Prevention
• Minimizing the Risk Factors
• Blood Pressure
• Diabetes
• Diet and Nutrition
• Exercise
• Homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and other emerging risk factors
• Lipids
• Smoking
• Stress

Blood pressure is the force exerted on the artery walls by the blood. The force is highest when the heart ejects or pumps the blood out of the left ventricle. This higher pressure is called the systolic blood pressure. As the heart relaxes and refills with blood, during diastole, the pressure in the arteries drops. This is the diastolic pressure. When the blood pressure is taken there are always two numbers, written as systolic/diastolic.

Blood pressure is dynamic and constantly changing due to internal and external stimuli. Blood pressure should be checked while you are quietly sitting. A single elevated blood pressure reading does not mean you have hypertension. Hypertension is diagnosed after several elevated readings. Elevated blood pressure should be discussed with your doctor. Blood pressure readings falling in Stage 3 to Stage 4 should be immediately reported to your doctor. High blood pressure works the heart harder and causes arteries to become less flexible. Sustained high blood pressure increases the risk of and can be a direct cause of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.

Men, overweight individuals, and those with a family history of hypertension are more likely to have high blood pressure.

African-, Puerto Rican-, Cuban-, Philippine-, and Mexican-Americans are more likely to suffer from high blood pressure than white Americans.

Other risk factors include aging, smoking, sodium sensitivity, alcohol usage, oral contraceptive use, and physical inactivity.

To control blood pressure:

• Maintain normal weight
• Exercise routinely
• Learn stress reduction techniques
• Reduce salt intake and increase dietary intake of potassium, magnesium, and calcium
• Limit stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine, and some over-the-counter cold medicines and weight loss products
• Stop smoking
• Limit alcohol to moderate amounts
• If blood pressure medication is needed, take your medication as prescribed and follow up with your physician

Blood Pressure Chart:

Blood Pressure Resources:
For guidelines and other information on blood pressure visit the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute web site.