Family Doctor 2008

common conditions HYPERTENSION Getting a grip on hypertension High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because many people don’t even know they have it. The good news is there’s plenty you can do to keep your blood pressure in check. By Kelly L. Gilmore Y our arteries are the pipes that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. When your heart beats, it 80”), you have a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80. Blood pressure in a healthy adult is 120/80 or lower. Hypertension is a reading of 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have something called prehypertension. This means you’re on your way to having high blood pressure. pushes blood through the arteries. In a person who has healthy arteries, the blood is able to ﬂow through the arteries with little resistance. But in a person whose arteries have become narrow, the arteries resist the blood ﬂowing through them. The heart has to work harder to get the blood where it needs to go, and that’s when high blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs. Hypertension puts a strain on your heart and causes damage to your blood vessels. This raises your risk for stroke, heart attack, heart disease and kidney failure. High blood pressure is sometimes called the “silent killer” because you can have it without even knowing that you do. This is because most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. Am I at risk? Several factors increase your risk of hypertension. Some you can control, and some you can’t. The factors you can’t control are: Race. African Americans develop hypertension more often and at an earlier age. Also, hypertension in African Americans tends to be more severe. Age. Risk of hypertension increases as you get older. Family history. If you have close family members who have hypertension, you’re at higher risk. Other factors that put you at higher risk for hypertension include: ● Being overweight. ● Not being active enough. Understanding the numbers Blood pressure is made up of 2 measurements. The ﬁrst number is called systolic, and refers to the peak blood pressure when your heart is sending blood out into the arteries. The second number is called diastolic, which is the pressure when your heart is relaxing between beats. Your blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). When you have your blood pressure checked, the systolic pressure is read ﬁrst, and the diastolic pressure is read second. For example, if your blood pressure reading is 120/80 (“120 over 68 familydoctor 2008

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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