Blood Pressure

Management
ADAM ARAGHI
What is blood pressure?
•Measures blood pushing on
arteries
•Read as two numbers
• Top number (systolic) is
pressure when heart beats
• Bottom number (diastolic) is
pressure when heart relaxes
Checking Your Blood Pressure
•Check every day, same time
•Multiple readings
•Before and after medications
Keep Track of Your Blood Pressure
Risk Factors
THINGS YOU CANNOT CONTROL THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL

•Family history •Exercise

•Age •Diet

•Gender •Weight

•Race •Alcohol

•Kidney problems •Cholesterol

•Diabetes
•Tobacco
•Stress
What can high blood pressure do?
•Stroke
•Vision loss
•Heart attack
•Heart failure
•Kidney disease/failure
•Sexual dysfunction
How to Control Your
Blood Pressure
Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension
(DASH)
•Low sodium
•Low saturated and no trans fat
•Whole grains, vegetables, and
fruits
•Lean meats, poultry, and fish
•Include nuts, seeds, and legumes
•<5 servings of sweets a week
•Combine with other strategies
Avoiding Sodium
•Canned goods, bacon, cheese,
bread, pickled products, instant
rice or pasta
•Cook at home
•Read food labels
Limit Alcohol
•Two drinks a day for
men
•One drink a day for
women
•What is a “drink”?
Exercise
Physical activity: 30 minutes, five times
a week, or
◦ Hiking, rollerblading, dancing, riding
a bike, brisk walking, water aerobics
Vigorous activity: 15 minutes, five
times a week
◦ Jogging/running, swimming fast,
skipping rope, ride bike fast or on
hills
Manage Stress
•Stress is normal, but do not let it
affect you
•Stress management techniques
• Relaxation
• Exercise
• Free up time
• Sleep
• Talking about it
Manage Your Weight
Quit Nicotine
•Thickens artery walls
•Increases risks for other diseases
•Help with quitting
• Counseling
• Medications
• Substitute
Medications
•Try lifestyle changes first
•Consult doctor if systolic still over 140
and/or diastolic still over 90
•When taking blood pressure
medications:
• Take readings before and after
• Be careful getting up
• Tell your doctor if taking erectile
dysfunction medications
Seek Medical Attention
•Make an appointment: blood
pressure usually over 140/90
•Consult doctor immediately:
blood pressure over 180/120
 References
American Heart Association (AHA). (2021). Understanding blood pressure readings. American Heart Association.
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). High blood pressure. Centers for Disease Control.
https://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Quit smoking. Centers for Disease Control.
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/quit_smoking/index.htm
Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). BMI calculator. Harvard Medical School.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/diet-and-weight-loss/bmi-calculator
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). (2021). Managing stress. National Alliance on Mental Illness.
https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Individuals-with-Mental-Illness/Taking-Care-of-Your-Body/Managing-Stress
National Institutes of Health (NIH). (2021). DASH eating plan. Department of Health and Human Services.
https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/dash-eating-plan
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2021). How to understand and use the nutrition facts label. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://www.fda.gov/food/new-nutrition-facts-label/how-understand-and-use-nutrition-facts-label
United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS). (2019). Treatment. United Kingdom National Health Service.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/high-blood-pressure-hypertension/treatment/