Hypertension - Risk factors you can control

High blood pressure affects one in five people in Canada. This is the main risk factor for stroke (stroke) and a major risk factor for heart disease . Hypertension is often called "silent killer" because it has no signs or symptoms. You see nothing! You do not feel anything! But the good news is that you can control it. If you know and control your blood pressure, you can reduce your risk of stroke by 40% and those of heart attack by 25%.

 

The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked by your doctor or other qualified health care provider. It is recommended for the general public to check his blood pressure at least once every two years. If you have received a diagnosis of hypertension (or other related health problems), your doctor will recommend to have it checked more often. Be sure to ask your doctor how often your blood pressure should be checked.

What is hypertension?

 

Blood pressure is the measurement of pressure or force of blood against the walls of blood vessels called arteries. The top number represents the pressure when the heart contracts and pushes blood out (systolic) and the bottom number is the lowest pressure, when the heart relaxes between beats (diastolic).

 

Blood pressure that is consistently above 140/90 mm ​​Hg when measuring the physician's office or more than 135/85 mm Hg is considered high at home. If you have diabetes, a measurement of 130/80 mm Hg is considered high.

 

Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg

 

If your blood pressure is between 130/85 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, you have a blood pressure "so-called" high normal ", which is more likely to develop high blood pressure.

 

Blood pressure values

 

Category	Systolic / diastolic
Normal	120-129 / 80-84
High normal	130-139 / 85-89
High blood pressure (measured by the doctor) High blood pressure (measured at home or with a personal trainer) Hypertension in people with diabetes or suffering from kidney disease	140 / 90 or more 135 / 85 or more 130 / 80 or more

 

A high reading does not necessarily mean you have high blood pressure. If your reading is high, you should have it measured at least twice on different days to see if it is consistently high. Record your blood pressure readings. You and your doctor can determine if your blood pressure is in the sound values. The need and type of treatment your blood pressure depends on several factors.

What causes high blood pressure does heart disease and stroke?

 

Over time, hypertension can damage blood vessel walls causing scarring favoring the accumulation of fatty plaque that can narrow the arteries and, later, the clog. It also strains the heart and, over time, weaken it. A very high blood pressure can cause rupture of blood vessels inside the brain and cause a stroke.