Blood Pressure
What is Blood Pressure?
Since blood is carried from the heart to all of your body's tissue
and organs in vessels called arteries, blood pressure is the
force of the blood pushing against the walls of those arteries. Each
time the heart beats (approximately 60-70 times per minute at rest), it
pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its
greatest when the heart contracts and is pumping the blood. This is
called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, in between beats,
your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure. Blood
pressure is always given as these two numbers and both are
important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such
as 120/80 mm Hg, with the top number the systolic, and the bottom the
diastolic.
Different actions make your blood pressure go up or down. When you
are physically active, your blood pressure goes up. When you are
relaxed, your blood pressure goes down. These are normal changes in
blood pressure.
Some people have blood pressure that stays up all or most of the
time. Their blood pushes against the walls of their arteries with higher
than normal force. If untreated this can lead to serious medical
problems such as:
Arteriosclerosis - High blood pressure harms the arteries by
making them thick and stiff ("hardening of the arteries"). This speeds
the build up of cholesterol and fats in the blood vessels, which
prevents the blood from flowing through the body, and in time can lead
to a heart attack or stroke.
Heart Attack - Blood carries oxygen to the body. When the
arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle become blocked, the heart
cannot get enough oxygen. Reduced blood flow can cause chest pain
(angina). Eventually, the flow may be stopped completely, causing a
heart attack.
Stroke - High blood pressure can harm the arteries, causing
them to narrow faster and less blood can get to the brain. If a blood
clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, a stroke may occur. A stroke
can also occur when very high pressure causes a break in a weakened
blood vessel in the brain (hemorrhagic stroke).
Enlarged heart - High blood pressure causes the heart to work
harder. Over time, this causes the heart to thicken and stretch.
Eventually the heart fails to function normally causing fluids to back
up into the lungs.
Kidney Damage - The kidney acts as a filter to rid the body of
wastes. Over many years, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the
blood vessels of the kidney. The kidney filters less fluid, and waste
builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether. When this
happens, medical treatment (dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be
needed.
 How
can I control high blood pressure?
A diet low in saturated fat and rich in whole grains, fruits, and
vegetables is recommended. Such suggestions are nuts, seeds, carrots,
spinach, celery, mushrooms, lima beans, potatoes, avocados, broccoli,
and foods that contain modest amounts of protein (preferably fish,
poultry, or soy products).
Loss of weight immediately reduces blood pressure and helps reduce
heart size. Weight loss may allow patients with mild hypertension to
safely reduce or go off medications.
Diets high in salt accelerate hypertension as we age. Salt
restriction is particularly important for those who are salt-sensitive
and for elderly people. Simply eliminating table and cooking salt can be
beneficial.
A sufficient intake of minerals, particularly potassium, magnesium,
and calcium, are beneficial for reducing blood pressure. Most people
should obtain this mineral from potassium-rich foods that include
potatoes, avocados, bananas, nonfat milk products, red beans, oranges,
prunes, and cantaloupes.
Calcium regulates the tone of the smooth muscles lining blood
vessels. Hypertension itself increases calcium loss from the body.
Sufficient calcium is important for strong bones.
Vitamin C has specific benefits for hypertension by preventing
dangerous effects on nitric acid, the substance that keeps arteries
flexible.
Everyone should quit smoking and if you drink alcohol at all, do so
in moderation. In healthy people with normal blood pressure drinking a
couple of cups of coffee a day is unlikely to do any harm. People with
existing hypertension should avoid caffeine altogether.
Regular exercise helps keep arteries elastic which keeps blood
flowing and blood pressure low. Moderately intense exercise is
recommended to lower blood pressure more effectively than high-intensity
exercise. Sedentary people have a much greater risk of developing
hypertension than physically active individuals do. Persons with high
blood pressure should consult a physician before starting an exercise
program.
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