Running Head: BLOOD PRESSURE 1

Know your Blood Pressure, Know your Body

CIS 111

Sydney Jones

University of Kentucky
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Abstract

This paper discusses the importance of knowing and keeping up with ones blood pressure. High

blood pressure is a common health issue for many individuals and can come along with, or lead

to, serious health conditions that need to be monitored closely. But, many do not know the risk

factors of high blood pressure, or even know what blood pressure is in the first place. The upside

to knowing ones blood pressure rate is that hypertension (high blood pressure) is for the most

part preventable with simple lifestyle changes, and also easy to keep up with when given the

proper medical attention. Although the risks of high blood pressure are scary, prevention is key

when dealing with this issue, and this paper is informing on what exactly high blood pressure is

and what can be done to keep it in the normal range.

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Bettering Your Blood Pressure

High blood pressure, called hypertension by doctors, affects nearly one out of

every three Americans. High blood pressure is a common health issue, but what is

forgotten is that this sickness can be dealt with, or even prevented, with some simple

lifestyle changes. Understanding what the numbers mean when having a blood pressure

reading is the first step in figuring out your own personal levels of hypertension. Being

aware of ones health can help when knowing what proper treatments or preventions are

required when dealing with someone who suffers from high blood pressure or is

susceptible to the condition.

Blood Pressure Readings

Hypertension (high blood pressure), can be defined as a common condition in

which the long-term force of the blood against artery walls is high enough that it may

eventually cause health problems, the more blood your heart pumps and the narrower

your arteries, the higher the blood pressure. Blood pressure readings fall into five general

categories; normal blood pressure, prehypertension, stage 1 hypertension, stage 2

hypertension, and hypertensive crisis. View the chart below to see the range in blood

pressure readings of each category:

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Figure 1. A chart of blood pressure categories. Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/Un

derstanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp#.WKshDzLMx-V

This chart is important to keep in mind when reading blood pressure to see which

category an individual falls into and deciding what kind of medical attention would be

appropriate. When reading a blood pressure number, it is important to look at both the top and

bottom number. The top number represents systolic blood pressure which indicates how much

pressure is being exerted against the artery walls during each heartbeat. The bottom number is

the diastolic blood pressure which represents the amount of pressure that is exerting against the

artery walls when the heart is at rest (American Heart Association, 2017). When looking at these

two numbers that make up a blood pressure reading, and referring back to the chart shown above,

figuring out which category an individual falls into is pretty simple.

Figure 2. A photo of a blood pressure reading. Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPressure/Un

derstanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp#.WKshDzLMx-V

The Silent Killer

About 85 million Americans one out of every three adults over age 20 have high

blood pressure. Nearly 20 percent do not even know they have it (American Heart Association,
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2016b). These are alarming numbers considering how dangerous hypertension can be for an

individual if gone untreated. Some health complications that are caused by uncontrolled blood

pressure are damage to: arteries, the heart, the brain, and kidneys, as well as many other areas of

the body.

Hypertension damages arteries in the body since there is an increases in pressure of blood

flow. This can cause narrowed arteries as well as aneurysms which can lead to life-threatening

internal bleeding if left untreated. Heart problems are one of the most common among those with

high blood pressure with some common issues being coronary artery disease (which causes a

lack of blood flow), an enlarged left heart due to over-working and pumping, and in more serious

cases heart failure. Damage to the brain due to hypertension includes: stroke, dementia, and mild

cognitive impairment. These are all due to lack of circulation of blood to the brain causing it to

be deprived of necessary nutrients. Kidneys are responsible for filtering excess fluid and waste

from the blood and when an individuals blood pressure is high, the kidneys are not able to do its

job which can lead to a lot of different kidney issues, the worst being kidney failure (Mayo

Clinic, 2016).

Figure 3. A diagram of how hypertension affects blood vessels. Retrieved from

http://us.123rf.com/450wm/annyart/annyart1602/annyart160200025/51897314-beautiful-vector-

illustration-of-blood-pressure-infographic-abstract-medicine-concept-useful-for-pos.jpg?ver=6
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High blood pressure has many effects on the body if left untreated. This is a chronic

condition that gradually causes damage over the years. If not monitored closely, blood pressure

can rise very quickly which could lead someone who is suffering from this condition into a

hypertensive crisis in which medical attention is needed immediately. When looking into blood

pressure, wither it being your own or a patients, it is important to understand what treatments or

lifestyle tips should be given to someone based on the severity of their hypertension levels.

Tips and Tricks

High blood pressure is a worldwide problem and the leading risk factor for death. Causes

are unknown in about 90 percent of cases, and there are typically no symptoms until high blood

pressure has done some damage to the body (Knowridge, 2017). The good news is that this is a

controllable disease even though its not curable. By making lifestyle changes, you can reduce

your risk of high blood pressure and prevent the problem before it happens.

Maintaining an active lifestyle and healthy weight is key in prevention, at least thirty

minutes of activity a day is recommended and can considerably reduce the risk of hypertension.

Some other tips to consider are limiting salt intake and eating a more fruit/vegetable focused diet.

Cutting down on alcohol, caffeine, and giving up smoking will all positively affect ones health

and prevent constricted blood vessels, which is common in those with high blood pressure.

Reducing stress is necessary since stress temporarily elevates heart rate and constricts blood

vessels leading to a raise in blood pressure (Knowridge, 2017). Prolonged exposure to stress can

cause a long term physical effect on the body, so developing coping exercises such as controlled

breathing can be very beneficial.

For those with severe high blood pressure that are wanting to maintain a regular level it is

important to take medications as directed and track progress through follow up visits to a
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physician. Medication should be looked at as a last resort for those with more serious cases,

while lifestyle changes can help people who want to maintain their normal blood pressure level.

Regular monitoring can help detect patterns and alert an individual on any changes, as well as

seeing if the lifestyle changes being made are effective for you or not. Managing blood pressure

is a lifelong commitment (American Heart Association, 2016a).

Medication is Not Always the Answer

A common misconception is that medication can actually fix high blood pressure. While

medication is used for those with this condition, it is NOT a cure. By making lifestyle changes

you can prevent hypertension in the first place, instead of having to rely on medication that can

have some serious side effects. Although some people with higher levels of hypertension are

required medication on top of lifestyle changes, medicine can be avoided by those in the lower

levels who can make adjustments to their lifestyle instead. According to a Mercola article, In

the vast majority of cases, drugs are not needed to reverse hypertension; making some basic diet

and lifestyle adjustments are the safest and most reliable option for optimizing your blood

pressure.

Blood pressure medication is very tedious, and if not taken exactly as prescribed blood

pressure can rise to dangerous levels. People who go on medication to control this condition are

usually on it for the rest of their life and need regular check ups with a physician. One study

showed that tighter control of blood pressure using pharmaceutical drugs is NOT associated with

better outcomes and in fact may shorten your lifespan (Mercola, 2013). So while medication is

an option, it is not necessary for those who can still prevent the condition from getting worse.

Blood pressure medicine should be seen as a last resort since achieving a healthy blood

pressure is very possible for most without drugs.

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Prevention is Key

High blood pressure is a common condition that many people suffer from, but it is

definitely preventable and manageable when given the right information on what to do for your

body. A simple doctors checkup that only takes a few minutes can catch this silent killer in its

tracks and allow you to live a long and healthy life. Being aware and knowing what is happening

with your body is key in prevention. Lifestyle changes in order to make you healthier, such as a

better diet and regular exercise, can add years onto your life without having to rely on

medication. So go out and get checked, and push your loved ones to do the same, that is the

biggest prevention of all.

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References

American Heart Association (2016a). Changes you can make to manage high blood pressure.

Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/MakeChangesThatMa

tter/Changes-You-Can-Make-to-Manage-High-Blood-

Pressure_UCM_002054_Article.jsp#.WKsyiDLMx-U

American Heart Association (2016b). The facts about high blood pressure. Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPres

sure/About-High-Blood-Pressure_UCM_002050_Article.jsp#mainContent

American Heart Association (2017a). Understanding blood pressure readings. Retrieved from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/AboutHighBloodPres

sure/Understanding-Blood-Pressure-Readings_UCM_301764_Article.jsp#.WJeypDLMz-

American Heart Association (2017b). What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? Retrieved

from

http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/UnderstandSymptoms

Risks/ What-are-the-Symptoms-of-High-Blood-

Pressure_UCM_301871_Article.jsp#.WJe0uDLMz-Y

Knowridge Science Report (2017). Eight ways to lower your blood pressure. Retrieved from

https://knowridge.com/2017/02/8-easy-ways-to-lower-your-blood-pressure/
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Mayo Clinic (2015). Blood pressure chart: what your reading means. Retrieved from

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/blood-

pressure/art-20050982

Mayo Clinic (2016). High blood pressure dangers: hypertension's effects on your body.

Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-

depth/high-blood-pressure/art-20045868

Medical Training and Simulation LLC (2016). Blood pressure measurement. Retrieved from

https://www.practicalclinicalskills.com/blood-pressure-measurement

Mercola (2013). Lowering your blood pressure using drugs may increase your risk of death,

study shows. Retrieved from

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2013/03/09/blood-pressure-drugs.aspx