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
1
2
3
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
4
5
6
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
7
8
9
10
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
