Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a serious health condition defined by a systolic blood pressure over 140 mmHg or a diastolic over 90 mmHg. It often has no symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to get your blood pressure checked. Risk factors include age, race, family history, diabetes, obesity, excess sodium intake, physical inactivity, excess alcohol, and smoking. Left untreated, hypertension can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and death. Treatment involves lifestyle changes like a healthy diet low in sodium, weight loss, exercise, and quitting smoking. If lifestyle changes are not effective, medications may be prescribed.

1. Hypertension and
YOU
MA-150

2. What is Hypertension?
High blood pressure or hypertension for adults
is defined as a systolic blood pressure of 140
mmHg or higher or a diastolic blood pressure of
90 mmHg or higher.

3. Signs and Symptoms
According to the CDC, High
blood pressure is called the
"silent killer" because many
people don't realize they have it.
High blood pressure often has no
warning signs or symptoms.

4. Signs and Symptoms (cont’)
The only way to detect whether
or not you have high blood
pressure is to have your blood
pressure measured by a doctor
or health professional—it is
quick and painless.

5. Risk Factors
• Age (Risk increases as age
increases)
• Race/Ethnicity (most prevalent
in African Americans)
• Family History
• Diabetes (60% of diabetic
individuals are also
hypertensive)

6. Lifestyle Factors
• Overweight/Obesity
• Excessive Sodium Intake
• Inactivity/Sedentary Lifestyle
• Excessive Alcohol Intake
• Smoking

7. Texas Outlook
According to Dr. Mark H.
Drazner of the University of
Texas Southwestern Medical
Center, hypertension remains a
major public health problem [in
the DFW area] associated with
considerable morbidity and
mortality...

8. Prevalence Among Texans

9. Who’s most at risk?
According to the Texas
Behavioral Risk Factor
Surveillance System, Center for
Health Statistics, African
American women age 45 and
older comprise the highest risk
group for hypertension among
Texans.

10. Prognosis
If left untreated, hypertension
can lead to heart disease,
stroke, heart attack, congestive
heart failure, kidney disease, an
overall reduced quality of life,
and eventually death.

11. Treatment and Prevention
The first step in treating and/or preventing
hypertension is discovering whether or not you
have it. The seventh report of the Joint National
Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation,
and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7)
recommends screening every 2 years in persons
with blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg and
every year with systolic blood pressure of 120 to
139 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89
mmHg.

12. Treatment and Prevention
(cont’)
The next step in the prevention
and/or reversal of hypertension is
effecting a change in lifestyle.

13. Eat a Healthy Diet
The CDC, NIH, AHA and numerous
other governmental and private
agencies alike recommend a diet low
in sodium consisting of whole natural
foods, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean
cuts of meat, and whole fibrous grains.
They also universally recommend
consuming processed and fast foods
on an occasional basis only.

14. Lose Weight/Maintain a
Healthy Weight (BMI)
Losing weight in addition to changing
your diet can also lower your blood
pressure. The Body Mass Index (BMI) will
tell you where you are currently with your
weight, and where you should aim.
To calculate your BMI, visit this website:
http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

15. Get Moving!
The Surgeon General recommends
at least 30 minutes of moderate daily
activity, however you can be more
active even if you don’t have time to
exercise. Take the stairs instead of
the elevator, walk or bike instead of
driving for short trips, take a short
walk on your lunch break, get
creative, you can do it!

16. Stop Unhealthy Habits
If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you do,
now is the optimal time to quit. In
addition to high blood pressure; lung
cancer, emphysema, COPD and a
multitude of other preventable diseases
are a direct result of smoking. Don’t wait
until it’s too late:
See http://smokefree.gov/ for more
information.

17. Stop Unhealthy Habits (cont’)
Excessive alcohol use, including
underage drinking and binge drinking
(drinking 5 or more drinks during a
single occasion for men or 4 or more
drinks during a single occasion for
women), can lead to increased risk of
health problems such as hypertension,
injuries, violence, liver diseases, and
cancer. Limit consumption to one drink
per day for women, two per day for men.

18. Medication Options
If lifestyle changes do not help
control blood pressure, or if your
blood pressure is excessively high,
medications may be prescribed. No
medication is without risk so make
sure to talk with your doctor about
any medications prescribed. Some
common blood pressure
medications are:

19. Medications (cont’)
• Diuretics
• Beta-blockers
• ACE inhibitors
• Angiotensin antagonists
• Calcium channel blockers (CCBs)
• Alpha-blockers
• Alpha-beta-blockers
• Nervous system inhibitors
• Vasodilators

20. Final Thoughts
While there are some factors such as age
and ethnicity that you cannot control, the
bulk of the responsibility is in your
hands. You only have one body, you
won’t be given another. Never take it for
granted.
“After all…it’s only your heart…” – Mr. P.

21. References
• http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wellness/data.shtm
• http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/facts.htm
• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/treat/bpd_type.htm
• http://www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/uspstf
07/hbp/hbprs.htm
• http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/
• http://smokefree.gov/
• http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/
• http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/wellness/PDF/posters/hb
p-prev-mort-poster.pdf
• http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/123/3/327.full

22. Thanks For Watching! <3
Presented By:
Essence Carianne Kassandra