BLOOD PRESSURE BASICS

What is Blood Pressure? The force of blood pushing against artery walls

What is an Average Blood Pressure? Reading? The top number is the systolic pressure: the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls at the moment the heart pumps out the blood. ** The bottom number is the diastolic pressure: the of the blood when the heart relaxes.

Ideal Blood Pressure A simple way to remember: Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg. Teens may have lower blood pressures because of their age and their height. 90/60 might not be low for a teen.

HYPERTENSION Blood pressure is normally high when: You are exercising or excited. Blood pressure drops back down to normal when you stop exercising or you calm down. *What causes blood pressure to remain high all of the time? *Narrow arteries – tense or constricted, hardened, or clogged *Too much blood volume Sodium holds water in your body, increasing the amount of blood.

How Much of a Health Problem is High Blood Pressure? What percentage of older adults end up with high blood pressure? 50-75% Do teenagers ever get high blood pressure? Yes, about 10% have pre-hypertension and 3- 10% actually have high blood pressure.

What Causes High Blood Pressure? Make a list of all the causes that you and your partner can think of. How many did you get? Genetics Age Lack of exercise Using tobacco Heavy use of alcohol Unmanaged, chronic stress Too many processed foods: a high sodium diet Lack of fruits and vegetables: too little potassium A high percentage of body fat: body composition problems

How Much Sodium Do We Need? 500 mg. or _______ teaspoon 1/4 tsp. How much do most of us eat? ______ tsp? mg. or 2-3 tsp. What is a safe level? _________________ 1500 mg is the recommended amount mg. is the maximum amount noted.

The Silent Killer Why is hypertension called the silent killer? It has no symptoms. How can you find out if your blood pressure is high? Measure it on a regular basis.

What Problems Does Hypertension Cause? Heart Failure The heart overworks, pumping against high pressure 24/7. It wears out early. Stroke Arteries burst, usually in the brain. Or they may harden, defending against the high pressure. Kidney Damage

Where is Most Sodium Found in Our Diets? From processed and restaurant foods, we get: 75% From the salt we add to food and the sodium which occurs naturally in food, we get the remaining: 25%