🩸 What is Blood Pressure?

The heart pumps blood throughout the body, the blood puts pressure on the artery walls. The arteries carry blood away from the heart and throughout the rest of the body. Throughout the day, one’s blood pressure naturally rises and falls. Systolic blood pressure measures when your heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure measures between beats. When reading a blood pressure measurement, the systolic number comes first, and the diastolic comes second. A normal blood pressure measurement is read 120/80 mmHg (or less).


🩺 What is Hypertension?

Consistent elevated blood pressure readings may lead to a diagnosis of high blood pressure, or Hypertension. Hypertension can lead to elevated risk for other health conditions like heart disease, chronic kidney disease and stroke. There are usually no warning signs for hypertension. The only way to detect it is by monitoring blood pressure levels.

Quick tips:
1. Exercise! It is recommended at least 30 min each day, 5 times each week.
2. Get regular physicals. Take your blood pressure often, and request that your doctor review how you are doing.
3. Maintain a balanced diet. Limit your sodium and alcohol intake.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. Do it the healthy way with diet and exercise, whenever possible.
5. Manage your stress levels. Find ways to nurture health relationships and activities.

Next Steps:
Be proactive about your health.