Blood Pressure: Something to Watch
Posted: Saturday, December 04, 2004
by lorien1973
Online Discount Mart Home & Garden Decor
What is one of the top killers of both men and women? Heart disease. One of the simplest ways to find out if you are at a high risk of stroke or heart attack is to monitor your blood pressure. But the American Heart Association reports that one in four people don’t even know they have high blood pressure, and that 33 percent of those people die. Getting a blood pressure is easy these days. Of course, you could get a reading from your doctor, but you can also visit any pharmacy or grocery store with pharmacies and use the free machines they have available or buy a home blood pressure monitor. The tough part is knowing what the numbers mean, and what to do if those numbers are too high.
Blood pressure, or hypertension, is the rate at which blood is circulated through the body. The higher the numbers, the harder your heart has to work to circulate blood. There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading. The top number is your systolic number, which is the pressure while your heart beats. The lower level is your diastolic number, which is the pressure while your heart is at rest. The American Heart Association considers a systolic reading of 120 or lower the healthiest, with the diastolic number should be 80 or lower. Once those numbers fall between 120 and 139 over 80 through 89, it is considered prehypertension. Anything above 140 over 90 or above is considered a high risk for stroke or heart attack. If you have a reading of 140/90 or higher, you should consult your physician.
What You Can Do
If you have high blood pressure it can be controlled. Steps you can take is to quit smoking if you smoke, and lowering your intake of sodium, saturated fats and alcohol in your diet, each of which can increase your risk of heart disease. Exercise can also help blood circulate throughout the body better, and doctors recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise, like walking - it is easy to monitor your walking with a pedometer or biking, daily. Also, try to avoid excess stress in your life, and practice forms of meditation, like concentrated breathing, yoga or mindful meditation, to keep stress in check. If the changes you make do not lower your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medications to help control and lower it.
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