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| Knowing your blood pressure is very important. High blood pressure, or hypertension, untreated can cause a heart attack, congestive heart failure, stroke, aortic aneurysms, kidney problems or even impaired vision. High blood pressure is known as "the silent killer" because there are usually no symptoms. That is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked throughout the year. |
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| Blood pressure is the force of blood against the blood vessel wall. This pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer and is read as a fraction. 120/80 is considered normal. |
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The first number is the systolic, which is the point at which the heart contracts to push the blood. The second number is the diastolic, representing the lowest point in the pressure of blood before another squirt enters the arteries. Hypertension is usually defined as a systolic pressure of 140mm Hg or higher and a diastolic blood pressure of 90mm Hg or higher. (The measurement mm Hg is millimemters of mercury, as measured with mercury-type sphygmomanometers.) |
 | If you have high blood pressure, it can be treated with medication and through changes in your eating habits and lifestyle. |
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Ten Commandments for the person with high blood pressure. |
visit the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org/hbp/index.jsp | 
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