Facts About Blood Pressure
When it comes to your blood pressure, don’t miss a beat. Managing high blood pressure is vital. Learn how you can better your heart with simple changes to your lifestyle.
Take your heart to heart. It’s your most important organ. Still, 46% of adults suffer from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension1. Don’t be that person. Take the right steps to monitor and manage your heart to decrease your risk of heart disease and increase your life expectancy.
NEW ACC/AHA BLOOD PRESSURE GUIDELINES: CHECK-IN TIME
It’s been over a year since the new blood pressure guidelines were released and 103 million Americans were recategorized with high blood pressure. That’s nearly 1 in 2 of us. How are YOU doing?
| blood pressure category |
Systolic mmHg (top number) |
Diastolic mmHg (bottom number) |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal | less than 120 | and | less than 80 |
| Elevated | 120 to 129 | and | less than 80 |
| High Blood Pressure hypertension stage 1 |
130 to 139 | or | 80 than 89 |
| High Blood Pressure hypertension stage 2 |
140 or higher | or | 90 or higher |
| Hypertensive emergency see your doctor right away |
higher than 180 | and/or | higher than 120 |
| blood pressure category |
||
|---|---|---|
| Systolic mmHg (top number) |
Diastolic mmHg (bottom number) |
|
| Normal | ||
| LESS THAN 120 | AND | LESS THAN 80 |
| Elevated | ||
| 120 TO 129 | AND | LESS THAN 80 |
|
High blood pressure HYPERTENSION STAGE 1 |
||
| 130 TO 139 | OR | 80 THAN 89 |
|
High blood pressure HYPERTENSION STAGE 2 |
||
| 140 OR HIGHER | OR | 90 OR HIGHER |
|
Hypertensive emergency SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY |
||
| HIGHER THAN 180 | AND/OR | HIGHER THAN 120 |
Home is where the heart is.
It’s surprising how often your numbers can change; that’s why home monitoring is important. Did you know that blood pressure in the morning can be significantly different than at night, or when you visit a doctor’s office? By using an accurate monitor at home, you’ll be able to detect and track the changes in your blood pressure. This way you can make the right lifestyle changes.
Small changes, huge rewards. Managing your high blood pressure doesn’t have to take a lot of work. In fact, small improvements to your lifestyle can significantly better your heart. Here’s what you can do:
- Exercise: Just be a little more active. Walk instead of drive, take the stairs instead of the elevator and count your steps to a healthier heart.
- Eat smart: Try to find low-fat, low-sodium substitutes that also taste great. Potassium found in bananas and carrots is nature’s best medicine for your heart.
- Kicking the habits: Minimize your alcohol and cigarette intake. If you’re going to have a drink try red wine, which, in moderation, is better for your heart.
- Stifle your stress: Stress is a normal part of life. But too much can increase the risk of heart disease. Relax by doing things you enjoy (yoga, gardening, walking, etc.) land your heart will benefit.
Live well to love your heart. Managing your blood pressure can be easy by following a healthy program you and your doctor have created. Make a pledge to start monitoring frequently and track your progress with the memory storage feature within your monitor or with this blood pressure monitoring log sheet.
- 1 ACC & AHA 2017 High Blood Pressure Clinical Practice Guideline.
- 2 Journal of Hypertension. 2013; 31:1281-1357.
