Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated. People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked.
2. Hypertension
• What is Blood Pressure?
– Pressure created by the heart as it pumps
blood through the arteries and the circulatory
system
• What do Blood Pressure Numbers
Mean?
– Top number (Systolic)= Pressure while heart is
beating
– Bottom number (Diastolic)= Pressure while
heart is resting between beats
Lifestyles, fitness
and rehabilitation
3. Hypertension
• Normal Blood Pressure
– Blood Pressure of < 140/ 90
– Blood Pressure of 130 to 139/ 85 to 89 should
be closely watched
• High Blood Pressure
– Blood Pressure > 140/ 90
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
4. Hypertension
• How can I tell if I have High
Blood Pressure?
– Usually NO SYMPTOMS!
– “The Silent Killer”
– May have:
• Headache
• Blurry vision
• Chest Pain
• Frequent urination at night
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
5. Hypertension
• Blood Pressure Measurement
– Sphygmomanometer
– Systolic pressure= pressure when 1st sound is
heard
– “Diastolic pressure= pressure when last sound
is heard
• Blood Pressure Cuff Size
– Small – children and small adults
– Average
– Large – overweight and large adults
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
6. American Heart Association
Recommended Blood Pressure Levels
BP
Category
Systolic
(mmHg)
Diastolic
(mmHg)
Follow-up
Optimal < 120 and < 80 Recheck
2 years
Normal < 130 and < 85 Recheck 2
years
High
Normal
130-139 or 85-89 Recheck 1
year
Lifestyles, fitness
And Rehabilitation
7. American Heart Association
Recommended Blood Pressure Levels
BP
Category
Systolic
(mmHg)
Diastolic
(mmHg)
Follow-up
Stage 1
(mild HTN) 140-159 or 90-99
Confirm within
months
Stage 2
(moderate
HTN)
160-179 or 100-109
Evaluate within
1 month
Stage 3
(severe HTN)
180 or > or 110 or >
Evaluate
immediately
Lifestyles, fitness
And Rehabilitation
8. Hypertension
• What Causes High Blood
Pressure?
– Cause unknown in 90 to 95% of cases =
Primary Hypertension
– Secondary Hypertension = 5 to 10%
• Kidney Abnormalities
• Narrowing of certain arteries
• Rare tumors
• Adrenal gland abnormalities
• Pregnancy
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
9. Hypertension
• What Causes High Blood
Pressure?
– Controllable Risk Factors
• Increased salt intake
• Obesity
• Alcohol
• Stress
• Lack of exercise
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
10. Hypertension
• What Causes High Blood
Pressure?
– Uncontrollable Risk Factors
• Heredity
• Age
– Men between age 35 and 50
– Women after menopause
• Race
– 1 out of every 3 African Americans
– Higher incidence in non-Hispanic blacks and
Mexican Americans
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
11. Hypertension
• Women and High Blood Pressure
– Birth Control Pill
– Pregnancy
– Overweight
– After Menopause
– African Americans
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
12. Hypertension
• How does High Blood Pressure
develop?
– Certain nerve impulses cause arteries to
become larger (dilate) or smaller (contract)
– If vessels wide open blood flows easily
– If vessel narrows pressure inside
increases causing hypertension
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
13. Hypertension
• What does High Blood Pressure do
to my Body?
– Stroke
– Congestive heart failure
– Kidney failure
– Heart attack
– Heart rhythm problems
– Aneurysm
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
14. Hypertension
• What Can I Do?
– High blood pressure is a lifelong
disease
– Blood pressure can be controlled not
cured
– Controlling blood pressure will reduce
the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart
failure and kidney disease
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
15. Hypertension
• What Can I Do?
– Loose weight if your overweight
– Get regular physical activity
– Avoid excessive alcohol
– Stop smoking
– Manage your stress
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
16. Hypertension
• What Can I Do?
– Decrease salt intake
– Eat for heart health
– Discuss the use of oral contraceptives
with your doctor
– Discuss the use of some medications
with your doctor
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
17. Hypertension
• Ten Commandments for Blood
Pressure Control
– Know your blood pressure
• Have it checked regularly
– Know what your weight should be
• Keep it at that level or below
– Don’t use excessive salt in cooking or
at meals
• Avoid salty foods
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
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18. Hypertension
• Ten Commandments for Blood
Pressure Control
– Eat a low-fat diet
• According to AHA regulations
– Don’t smoke cigarettes
• Or use tobacco products
– Take your medicine exactly as
prescribed
• Don’t run out of pills even for a single day
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
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19. Hypertension
• Ten Commandments for Blood
Pressure Control
– Keep your appointments with the doctor
– Follow your doctors advice about
exercise
– Make certain family members have their
blood pressure checked regularly
– Live a normal life in every other way!
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
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20. Hypertension
• Medication for High Blood
Pressure
– Diuretics
• Rid the body of excess fluids and salt
– Beta-blockers
• Reduce the heart rate and the work of the
heart
– Calcium antagonists
• Reduce heart rate and relax blood vessels
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
21. Hypertension
• Medication for High Blood
Pressure
– Angiotensin II receptor blockers(ACE)
• Interfere with the bodies production of
angiotensin, a chemical that causes the
arteries to constrict (narrow)
– Vasodialators
• Cause the muscle in the wall of the blood
vessels to relax, allowing the vessel to
dialate (widen)
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
22. Hypertension
• Medication for High Blood
Pressure
– Sympathetic nerve inhibitors
• Sympathetic nerves go from the brain to all
parts of the body, including the arteries
• Cause arteries to constrict raising blood
pressure
• These drugs reduce blood pressure by
inhibiting these nerves from constricting
blood vessels
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
23. Hypertension
• Home Blood Pressure
Monitoring
– Mercury sphygmomanometer
• Standard for BP monitoring
• No calibration
• May be bulky
• Need a second person to use machine
• May be difficult for hearing impaired or
patients with arthritis
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
24. Hypertension
• Home Blood Pressure
Monitoring
– Aneroid equipment
• Inexpensive, lightweight and portable
• Two person operation/need stethoscope
• Delicate mechanism, easily damaged
• Needs calibration with mercury
sphygmomanometer
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation
25. Hypertension
• Home Blood Pressure
Monitoring
– Automatic equipment
• Contained in one unit
• Portable with easy-to-read digital display
• Expensive, fragile
• Must be calibrated
• Requires careful cuff placement
Lifestyles, Fitness
and Rehabilitation