High blood pressure, also called hypertension affects 1 in 3
adults. Do you know your numbers? Do you what a normal reading is? Optimal is
120/80.
More precise classification is as follows:
Normal 120-129/80-84
High normal
130-139/85-89
Mild 140-159/90-99
Moderate 160-179/100-109
Severe over 180/110
For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at retail stores, drugstores, and local medical supply stores.
Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.
You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension http://bit.ly/1cGaeMj . There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.
If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
For more accurate measures of your blood pressure and what affects it consider home blood pressure monitoring. Buy a blood pressure monitor for home use. Wrist and arm monitors are available at retail stores, drugstores, and local medical supply stores.
Record your blood pressure readings daily starting with morning, midday, and night. Make a note of your activity and how you are feeling. You may notice that extreme anxiety makes it go up. The correlation to your pressure will help you manage the things that make it go up. Share your results with your doctor so medication and lifestyle changes can be made if necessary.
You may find that while your blood pressure is high in the doctor's office, it may be normal in everyday activity. Remember, the doctor's result is a one time reading every one to four or more months. With normal home results, and high results at your doctor visits you may have "white coat" hypertension http://bit.ly/1cGaeMj . There is much controversy over whether this should be treated. Check with your cardiologist.
If your blood pressure is borderline at 130/85, you want o start a low salt diet. The best is the DASH diet (http://bit.ly/hnbsL). Exercise, weight control, and stress reduction are other things to include in your treatment plan. For higher blood pressure readings over 140/90, medication may be necessary. Take your home blood pressure results in to your doctor. This will help in deciding on the best treatment for you.
by J.L. Richardson, MD, author of the Patient Handbook to Medical Care: Your Personal Health Guide.
