What Is High Blood Pressure?

Each time your heart beats, it pumps oxygen-rich blood through the blood vessels, or arteries, that run through your body. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.

The pressure of blood against the artery walls when your heart beats is called systolic pressure. The pressure between beats when your heart relaxes is called diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other -- for example, 120/80 mmHg. The top, or first, number is the systolic and the bottom, or second number, is the diastolic. If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

Your blood pressure changes throughout the day. It is lowest when you're asleep, and it rises when you awaken. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. So it varies throughout the day.

A systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or higher, is considered high blood pressure, or hypertension. Hypertension is the medical term for high blood pressure.

If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, a systolic blood pressure of 130 mmHg or higher, or a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure.

High blood pressure currently affects more than 65 million Americans. That's 1 in every 3 adults.

High blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. Some people may not find out they have high blood pressure until they have trouble with their heart, brain, or kidneys. When high blood pressure is not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to other life-threatening conditions, including heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

High blood pressure can cause
your heart to work too hard and become larger, which can lead to heart failure.
small bulges (aneurysms) to form in your blood vessels. Common locations for aneurysms are the aorta, which is the main artery from the heart; the arteries in your brain, legs, and intestines; and the artery leading to your spleen.

High blood pressure can cause
blood vessels in your kidneys to narrow, which can cause kidney failure, and blood vessels in your eyes to burst or bleed, which may cause vision changes and can result in blindness.
arteries throughout your body to "harden" faster, especially those in your heart, brain, kidneys, and legs. This can cause a heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure, or lead to amputation of part of the leg.
A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg or less is considered normal. Usually, the lower, the better, although very low blood pressure can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be checked out by your doctor.

If either your systolic or diastolic blood pressure is higher than normal (120/80) but not high enough to be considered high blood pressure (140/90), you have pre-hypertension. Pre-hypertension is a top number between 120 and 139 or a bottom number between 80 and 89 mmHg. For example, blood pressure readings of 138/82, 128/70, or 115/86 are all in the "pre-hypertension" range.

If you have pre-hypertension, your chances of developing high blood pressure are greater than average unless you take action to prevent it. In fact, having pre-hypertension doubles a woman's chances of having heart disease or a stroke. That's a 100 percent increase. For men, the increase is 45 percent.

About two out of every three people over the age of 60 who have high blood pressure have isolated systolic hypertension. This means that only the top number, the systolic pressure, is high (140 mmHg or higher). Isolated systolic hypertension can be as harmful as when both numbers are high.

You may have isolated systolic hypertension and feel fine. As with other types of high blood pressure, it often causes no symptoms.

When your systolic and diastolic pressures fall into different categories, the higher category is used to classify your blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 mmHg is considered stage 2 high blood pressure even though a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg is in the pre-hypertension range.

Quiz
1. Blood pressure changes throughout the day. It

A. is highest while you sleep.
B. rises when you awaken.
C. is lower when you take a bath.

B is the correct answer. Your blood pressure is lowest when you are sleeping and rises when you awaken.

2. Blood pressure is measured in an upper number and lower number. These are called:

A. systolic and diastolic.
B. numerator and denominator.
C. a ratio.

A is the correct answer. Blood pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other -- for example, 120/80 mmHg. The top, or first, number is the systolic and the bottom, or second number, is the diastolic. If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

3. A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered

A. pre-hypertension.
B. normal.
C. too low.

B is the correct answer. A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal. In general, lower is better. However, very low blood pressures can sometimes be a cause for concern and should be checked out by a doctor.

4. If not treated, high blood pressure can lead to

A. heart failure.
B. kidney failure.
C. heart attack.
D. all of the above

D is the correct answer. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart failure, kidney failure, and heart attack.


Risk Factors and Prevention
About 65 million American adults -- nearly 1 in 3 -- have high blood pressure. Many people get high blood pressure as they get older. In fact, over half of all Americans age 60 and older have high blood pressure. However, getting high blood pressure is not a normal part of aging! There are things you can do to help keep your blood pressure normal, such as eating a healthy diet and getting more exercise.

Risk Factors and Prevention - Risk Factors
Anyone can develop high blood pressure. But your chances of getting high blood pressure are higher if you

are overweight or obese
are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over the age of 55
have a family history of high blood pressure
have pre-hypertension, a reading of 120-139/80-89 mmHg.
Other things that increase your chances of developing high blood pressure are

eating too much salt
drinking too much alcohol
being physically inactive
taking certain medicines
having long-lasting stress.
In the U.S., high blood pressure occurs more often in African Americans. Compared to other groups, blacks

tend to get high blood pressure earlier in life
usually have more severe high blood pressure
have a higher death rate from stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

Quiz
1. Anyone can develop high blood pressure, but your chances of getting it are greater if you

A. are overweight or obese
B. are underweight
C. are under the age of 45.

A is the correct answer. Anyone can develop high blood pressure. But your chances of getting high blood pressure are higher if you are overweight or obese.

2. Many people get high blood pressure

A. from others who have it.
B. as they age.
C. when they lose weight.

B is the correct answer. About 65 million American adults -- nearly 1 in 3 -- have high blood pressure. Many people get high blood pressure as they get older. In fact, over half of all Americans age 60 and older have high blood pressure.

3. In the U.S., high blood pressure occurs more often in

A. people under 30 years of age.
B. athletes.
C. African Americans.

C is the correct answer. In the U.S., high blood pressure occurs more often in African Americans. Compared to other groups, blacks tend to get high blood pressure earlier in life and usually have more severe high blood pressure. They also have a higher death rate from stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.


Risk Factors and Prevention - Prevention
You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. These steps include

losing weight, if necessary, and maintaining a healthy weight
being physically active
following a healthy eating plan like DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products and choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium
if you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation.
More than 2 out of 3 Americans ages 20-74 are either overweight or obese. Overweight and obesity increase your chances of developing high blood pressure and diabetes, which, in turn, increase your chances of developing heart disease. Blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure -- and it has the greatest effect for those who are overweight and already have hypertension. If you are overweight, work with your health care provider to develop a plan to help you reduce your weight.

How do I know if I'm overweight?

Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat, based on your height and weight. It applies to both men and women, but it does have some limits:

It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
As your BMI goes up, so do your chances of getting high blood pressure, heart disease, and other diseases. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9; obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

A portion of a body mass index chart is on the right. The full chart is available from NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute).

To return to this page after reading the chart, click on the "X" in the upper right hand corner of the chart page.

Following an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, and is low in saturated fat, cholesterol, and total fat is even more effective when you also reduce your salt and sodium intake.

One such eating plan is called DASH. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. This was the name of a study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health that showed that this kind of eating plan can help you prevent and control high blood pressure. The study also showed that combining this kind of eating plan with cutting back on salt in your diet is even more effective at lowering your blood pressure.

In general, the lower your salt intake, the lower your blood pressure. The key to reducing the amount of salt we eat is making wise food choices. Only a small amount of the salt that we eat comes from the salt shaker, and only small amounts occur naturally in food. Most of the salt that we eat comes from processed foods -- for example, canned or processed meat, baked goods, certain cereals, soy sauce, seasoned salts, monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, and some antacids.

So be sure to read food labels to choose products lower in salt. Look for the sodium content in milligrams and the Percent Daily Value. Aim for foods that are less than 5 percent of the Daily Value of sodium. Foods with 20 percent or more Daily Value of sodium are considered high.

Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent or control high blood pressure. It also helps reduce your risk of heart disease. Thirty minutes of moderate exercise on most, and preferably all, days of the week can help improve your cardiovascular health.

If you drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation. Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure. Men should limit their intake to 2 drinks per day, and women should limit their intake to one drink per day.

Smoking injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. It increases your chances of stroke, heart disease, peripheral arterial disease, and several forms of cancer. If you smoke, quit. If you don't smoke, don't start. Once you quit, your risk of having a heart attack is reduced after the first year. So you have a lot to gain by quitting.

If you have high blood pressure and diabetes, you have an increased risk of heart and kidney problems and stroke. Controlling your blood glucose -- and your blood pressure and cholesterol -- will help lower your chances of having a heart attack, a stroke, or other diabetes problems.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute provides tips on how to lower your blood pressure in a fact sheet called "Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure," at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html

To return to this page after reading the fact sheet, click on the "X" in the upper right hand corner of the fact sheet.

Quiz
1. Being physically active can help you prevent and control high blood pressure.

TRUE is the correct answer. Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can take to prevent or control high blood pressure. It also helps reduce your chances of developing heart disease. Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week can help improve your cardiovascular health.
2. Overweight and obesity increase your chances of developing high blood pressure and diabetes.

TRUE is the correct answer. Blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure -- and it has the greatest effect for people who are overweight and already have hypertension. If you are overweight, work with your health care provider to develop a plan to help you reduce your weight.
3. Eating more salt and sodium can help prevent and control high blood pressure.

FALSE is the correct answer. Including less salt and sodium in your diet can help lower your blood pressure. Foods high in sodium include baked goods, certain cereals, soy sauce, seasoned salts, monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, and some antacids. Read food labels to find products that are lower in sodium.
4. High blood pressure is a normal part of aging.

FALSE is the correct answer. High blood pressure is not a normal part of aging. There are things you can do to prevent high blood pressure, such as eating a healthy diet and getting more exercise.

Symptoms and Diagnosis
High blood pressure is often called the "silent killer" because you can have it for years without knowing it. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure measured.

Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days before making a diagnosis. Only if you have several readings of 140/90 mmHg or higher (or 130/80 mmHg or higher if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease), will your doctor diagnose you with high blood pressure

Having your blood pressure measured is quick and easy. Your doctor or nurse will use some type of gauge, a stethoscope or electronic sensor, and a blood pressure cuff, also called a sphygmomanometer.

You should be sitting down and relaxed when your blood pressure is taken. There are other things you can do to prepare for the test.

Don't drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for 30 minutes beforehand.
Sit for five minutes with your back supported and your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart.
Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.
Go to the bathroom prior to the reading. A full bladder can change the reading.
Get two readings, taken at least two minutes apart, and average the results. Ask the doctor or nurse to tell you your blood pressure reading in numbers and to explain what the numbers mean. Write down your numbers or ask the doctor or nurse to write them down for you.

You can also check your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure measurement device or monitor. It is important that you understand how to use the monitor. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can help you check the monitor and teach you how to use it correctly. You may also ask for their help in choosing the right blood pressure monitor for you. Blood pressure monitors can be bought at discount chain stores and pharmacies.

When you are taking your blood pressure at home, sit with your back supported and your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart. Take two readings, at least two minutes apart. Take the average of the results.

Quiz
1. Any time your blood pressure measures 140/90 mmHg or higher (130/80 mmHg or higher if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease), your doctor will give you a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

FALSE is the correct answer. Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days before making a diagnosis. Only if you have several readings of 140/90 mmHg or higher (or 130/80 mmHg or higher if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease), will your doctor diagnose you with high blood pressure.
2. Having your blood pressure measured involves several complicated tests.

FALSE is the correct answer. Having your blood pressure measured is quick and easy. Your doctor or nurse will use some type of gauge, a stethoscope or electronic sensor, and a blood pressure cuff, also called a sphygmomanometer.
3. There are several things you can do to prepare to have your blood pressure measured.

TRUE is the correct answer.
You should be sitting down and relaxed when your blood pressure is taken.

Don't drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for 30 minutes beforehand.
Sit for five minutes with your back supported, your feet flat on the floor, and ground.
Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart.
Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.
Go to the bathroom prior to the reading. A full bladder can change the reading.

4. You can also check your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure measurement device or monitor.

TRUE is the correct answer. You can also check your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure measurement device or monitor. But it is important that you understand how to use the monitor. Your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can help you check the monitor and teach you how to use it correctly. You may also ask for their help in choosing the right blood pressure monitor for you. Blood pressure monitors can be bought at discount chain stores and pharmacies.

Treating High Blood Pressure
Usually, your goal is to keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg (130/80 if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease). Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Ask your doctor what your blood pressure goal should be.

Some people can prevent or control high blood pressure by changing to healthier habits, such as

eating healthy foods that include fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk products
cutting down on salt and sodium in the diet
losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight
being physically active for 30 minutes each day
limiting alcohol intake.
Sometimes these lifestyle changes will not be enough to completely control your blood pressure. In that case, it is important for you to take medicines. Medicines will control your blood pressure but they cannot cure it. You will need to take high blood pressure medicine for a long time -- probably for the rest of your life.

Blood pressure medicines work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Some drugs lower blood pressure by removing extra fluid and salt from your body. Others affect blood pressure by slowing down the heartbeat, or by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Often, two or more drugs work better than one.

Here are the types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Diuretics are sometimes called "water pills." They work by helping your kidneys flush excess water and salt from your body. This reduces the amount of fluid in your blood, and your blood pressure goes down. There are different types of diuretics. They are often given with other high blood pressure medicines and may be combined with another medicine in one pill.
Here are types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Beta blockers cause your heart to beat more slowly and with less force. Your heart pumps less blood through the blood vessels, and your blood pressure goes down.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors keep your body from making a hormone called angiotensin II, which normally causes blood vessels to narrow. ACE inhibitors prevent this narrowing so your blood pressure goes down.
Here are types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBS) are newer blood pressure drugs that protect your blood vessels from angiotensin II. They make the blood vessels relax and become wider, and your blood pressure goes down.
Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) keep calcium from entering the muscle cells of your heart and blood vessels. This causes blood vessels to relax, and your blood pressure goes down.
Here are types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Alpha blockers reduce nerve impulses that tighten blood vessels, allowing blood to pass more easily and causing blood pressure to go down.
Alpha-beta blockers reduce nerve impulses to blood vessels the same way alpha blockers do, but they also slow the heartbeat, as beta blockers do. As a result, blood pressure goes down.
Here are types of medicines used to treat high blood pressure.

Nervous system inhibitors relax blood vessels by controlling nerve impulses from the brain. This causes blood vessels to become wider and blood pressure to go down.
Vasodilators open blood vessels by directly relaxing the muscle in the vessel walls, causing blood pressure to go down.
If your blood pressure continues to measure 140/90 mmHg or higher (130/80 or higher if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease) after you start taking medicine, your doctor may need to add a second drug or try you on different medicines until you find one that helps you reach your goal.

It is important that you take your blood pressure medication the same time each day. There are a few tips to make this easier to remember.

Try to link it with something else that you do regularly, like brushing your teeth.
If your doctor tells you to take your pills with food, try taking them with the same meal every day.
Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Another way to remember to take your blood pressure medication is to write it down. Put a reminder note on the refrigerator, by the phone, on the medicine cabinet, or even on the bathroom mirror. Try changing the message frequently, using different colors to get your attention, or moving the notes to a different spot.

Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Try keeping a chart or calendar to write down when you take your drugs. Keep this calendar posted so you can quickly see if youve taken your drugs. Use colored pens to help you keep track of more than one type of medication.
Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Try using a special pillbox that helps keep your pills organized. You can buy these containers at most drugstores or pharmacies.
Ask for help. Family or friends can be a great support system. Put together a team. If you have friends who also take medication, help remind each other.

Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Put a favorite picture of yourself or a loved one on the refrigerator with a note that says, "Remember to Take Your High Blood Pressure Medicine."
Take your high blood pressure drugs right after you brush your teeth and keep them with your toothbrush as a reminder.
Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Ask a friend or relative to call your telephone answering machine to remind you to take your high blood pressure drugs and DO NOT erase the message.
If you use the telephone company's voice mail service, record a reminder for yourself and the service can automatically call you every day at the same time.

Tips for remembering to take your medications:

Establish a buddy system with a friend who also is on daily medication and arrange to call each other every day with a reminder to "take your medicine."
Ask one or more of your children or grandchildren to call you every day with a quick reminder. It's a great way to stay in touch and little ones love to help the grown-ups.
Tips for remembering to take your medications:

If you have a personal computer, program a start-up reminder to take your high blood pressure drugs or sign up with one of the free services that will send you reminder e-mail every day.
Remember to refill your prescription. Each time you pick up a refill, make a note on your calendar to order and pick up the next refill one week before the medicine is due to run out.

Quiz
1. Some people can prevent and control high blood pressure by making lifestyle changes.

TRUE is the correct answer.
Some people can prevent or control high blood pressure by changing to healthier habits, such as

eating healthy foods that include fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk products
cutting down on salt and sodium in the diet
losing excess weight and staying at a healthy weight
being physically active for 30 minutes each day
limiting alcohol intake.

2. Once you get your blood pressure under control, you can stop taking your medicines.

FALSE is the correct answer. Medicines will control your blood pressure but they cannot cure it. You will need to take high blood pressure medicine for a long time -- probably for the rest of your life.
3. You may need to take more than one medicine to get your blood pressure under control.

TRUE is the correct answer. Blood pressure medicines work in different ways to lower blood pressure. Some drugs lower blood pressure by removing extra fluid and salt from your body. Others affect blood pressure by slowing down the heartbeat, or by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Often, two or more drugs work better than one.
4. Usually the goal of treatment is to keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg (130/80 if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease).

TRUE is the correct answer. If your blood pressure still measures more than 140/90 mmHg (130/80 if you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease) after you start treatment, your doctor may need to try different medicines until you find one that enables you to reach your goal. Ask your doctor what your goal should be.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is normal blood pressure?
A blood pressure reading below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. In general, lower is better.

2. What is high blood pressure?
A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure, although your doctor will usually take your blood pressure at different times on several different days, and if it stays at 140/90 or higher, you will be diagnosed with high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, a reading of 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure.

3. What is "pre-hypertension?"
Pre-hypertension is a systolic blood pressure reading between 120-139 mmHg or a diastolic reading between 80-89 mmHg. Pre-hypertension often leads to hypertension. It also increases your chances of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. Talk to your doctor or other health care provider about lowering your blood pressure if it's in the pre-hypertensive range. Making changes in your diet, losing weight, exercising more often, and/or drinking less alcohol may be all you need to do.

4. What is isolated systolic hypertension?
About two out of every three people over the age of 60 who have high blood pressure have isolated systolic hypertension. This means that only the top number, the systolic pressure, is high -- 140 mmHg or higher. Isolated systolic hypertension can be as harmful as when both numbers are high.

You may have isolated systolic hypertension and feel fine. As with other types of high blood pressure, it often causes no symptoms.

5. Blood pressure is always given as two numbers. What do they mean?
Blood pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other -- for example, 120/80 mmHg. The top, or first, number is the systolic and the bottom, or second number, is the diastolic. If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."

Your systolic pressure is the pressure of blood in the vessels when your heart beats. Your diastolic pressure is the pressure between beats when your heart relaxes.

6. Why is it so important to control my blood pressure?
High blood pressure is often called "the silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms. Some people may not find out they have high blood pressure until they have trouble with their hearts, brains, or kidneys. When high blood pressure is not diagnosed and treated, it can lead to other life-threatening conditions, including heart attacks, stroke, and kidney failure.

High blood pressure can cause

your heart to work too hard and become larger, which can lead to heart failure
small bulges (aneurysms) to form in your blood vessels. Common locations for aneurysms are the aorta, which is the main artery from the heart; the arteries in your brain, legs, and intestines; and the artery leading to your spleen.
High blood pressure can cause

blood vessels in your kidneys to narrow, which can cause kidney failure, and blood vessels in your eyes to burst or bleed, which may cause vision changes and can result in blindness.
arteries throughout your body to "harden" faster, especially those in your heart, brain, kidneys, and legs. This can cause a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, or lead to amputation of part of the leg.

7. Who is most likely to get high blood pressure?
Your chances of getting high blood pressure are higher if you

are overweight or obese
are a man over the age of 45 or a woman over the age of 55
have a family history of high blood pressure
have pre-hypertension, with a reading of 120-139/80-89 mmHg
are African American.

8. What other factors increase my chances of getting high blood pressure?
eating too much salt
drinking too much alcohol
being physically inactive
taking certain medicines
having long-lasting stress.

9. Is there any way I can prevent high blood pressure?
You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle. These steps include

losing weight, if necessary, and maintaining a healthy weight
being physically active
following a healthy eating plan like DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk and milk products, and choosing and preparing foods with less salt and sodium
if you drink alcoholic beverages, drinking in moderation.

10. What can I do to prepare to have my blood pressure taken?
Here is how to prepare to have your blood pressure taken.

You should be sitting or lying down and relaxed when your blood pressure is taken.
Don't drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for 30 minutes beforehand.
Sit for five minutes with your back supported, your feet flat on the floor, and ground.
Rest your arm on a table at the level of your heart.
Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.
Go to the bathroom prior to the reading. A full bladder can change the reading.

11. Are there lifestyle changes I can make to lower my blood pressure?
Yes, some people can lower their blood pressure by making the same kinds of lifestyle changes that can help prevent high blood pressure.

Eat healthy foods that include fruits, vegetables, and low-fat milk products.
Cut down on salt and sodium in the diet.
Lose excess weight and stay at a healthy weight.
Be physically active for 30 minutes each day.
Limit alcohol intake.

12. Are there medicines I can take to cure high blood pressure?
No, medicines will control your blood pressure, but they cannot cure it. You will need to take high blood pressure medicine for a long time -- probably for the rest of your life.

13. Is there one kind of medicine I can take that will control my blood pressure?
Today, many different types of medicines are available to control high blood pressure. These medicines work in different ways. Some lower blood pressure by removing extra fluid and salt from your body. Others affect blood pressure by slowing down the heartbeat, or by relaxing and widening blood vessels. Often, two or more drugs work better than one.

14. How do I know if I need to lose weight to prevent or control my blood pressure?
Body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat, based on your height and weight. It applies to both men and women, but it does have some limits:

It may overestimate body fat in athletes and others who have a muscular build.
It may underestimate body fat in older persons and others who have lost muscle mass.
As your BMI goes up, so do your chances of getting high blood pressure, heart disease, and other diseases. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9; obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal to 30.

15. What is the relationship between blood pressure and body weight?
Blood pressure rises as body weight increases. Losing even 10 pounds can lower blood pressure -- and it has the greatest effect for those who are overweight and already have hypertension. If you are overweight, work with your health care provider to develop a plan to help you reduce your weight.

16. What is the major source of the salt, or sodium, that we eat each day?
Only a small amount of the salt that we eat comes from the salt shaker, and only small amounts occur naturally in food. Most of the salt that we eat comes from processed foods -- for example, baked goods, certain cereals, soy sauce, seasoned salts, monosodium glutamate (MSG), baking soda, and some antacids.

17. What will the food label tell you about the amount of salt, or sodium, in that product?
Look for the sodium content in milligrams and the Percent Daily Value. Aim for foods that are less than 5 percent of the Daily Value of sodium. Foods with 20 percent or more Daily Value of sodium are considered high.

18. How much salt is OK to eat each day?
Try not to eat more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. That's about 1 teaspoon of table salt. This is the highest level considered acceptable by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program and the highest amount recommended for healthy Americans by the 2005 "U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans" developed by the USDA.

19. What is the DASH Eating Plan?
"DASH" stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension." This is the name of a clinical study that tested the effects of nutrients in food on blood pressure. Study results indicated that you can reduce high blood pressure by following an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, and is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol can reduce high blood pressure.

The DASH eating plan includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts, and has reduced amounts of red meats, sweets, added sugars, and beverages containing sugars.

A second study, called "DASH-Sodium," showed that eating less salt also lowered blood pressure in people following either the DASH eating plan or the typical American diet. But those following DASH, especially those with high blood pressure, benefited the most.

20. Can you lose weight following the DASH eating plan?
Yes, the DASH eating plan can easily be changed to support weight loss, especially since it is rich in lower-calorie foods, such as fruits and vegetables. It doesn't require any special foods or offer hard-to-follow recipes. It simply calls for a certain number of daily servings from various food groups. The number of servings you need depends on your calorie level.

To lose weight, just aim for a calorie level that is lower than what you usually eat. You can make it even lower in calories by replacing higher calorie foods, such as sweets, with more fruits and vegetables.


Topic last reviewed: 15 September 2006
Topic first published: 15 September 2006

Article reproduced from the National Institute of Health and the National Library of Health.  Government information at NLM Web sites is in the public domain. Public domain information may be freely distributed and copied.  For more information visit www.nih.gov. The information contained in this article is not intended to provide advice on personal medical matters, nor is it intended to be a substitute for consultation with a medical professional.