Pressure Points

Lifesaving Truths About Hypertension

Did You Know?

About one in three American adults have high blood pressure. Nearly 31 percent of people with the condition don’t even know they have it.

If you have prehypertension, you are likely to develop high blood pressure unless you take action by eating a balanced, low-sodium diet; getting regular exercise; and quitting smoking.

High blood pressure has no symptoms. You can’t know you have it unless you have your pressure checked regularly.

High blood pressure is easy to detect and control with healthy lifestyle habits and sometimes medication.

If you have high blood pressure, you may think it’s a result of stress or the normal aging process. The truth is, no one really knows what causes hypertension, yet many myths such as these continue to circulate about the disease that affects one in three American adults.

Part of the confusion stems from the fact that high blood pressure — or hypertension — is unlike many short-term illnesses. For example:

• It has no signs or symptoms, yet it leads to death and disability.
• It is treatable and sometimes preventable — but it cannot be cured.
• Treatment involves daily medicine, which sometimes must be taken for life, even if your blood pressure level returns to normal.

Take Action When Diagnosed

Because hypertension does not make you feel sick, “accepting that you have it — and following through with proper treatment — requires trust and cooperation between you and your doctor,” says Patrice Desvigne-Nickens, M.D., medical officer with the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Many people are shocked to learn they have high blood pressure. Nevertheless, “if your doctor says you have it, believe it — and take action right away,” she urges.

Get the Facts

High blood pressure is nicknamed “the silent killer” for good reason: Over time, it causes serious damage to vital organs inside the body — all without telltale signs. “It prematurely ages arteries, which causes problems with the heart, kidneys, brain, eyes and limbs — all leading to heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and blindness,” says Dr. Desvigne-Nickens.

Knowledge is the key to conquering hypertension. Here are the truths behind these widely believed myths about this disease.

Stress and an aggressive, competitive personality do not cause high blood pressure.

Despite the name hypertension, there is no link between the disease and anxiety, temperament or personality. If you cope with daily stress by smoking, drinking alcohol or eating junk food, however, then you will increase your risk of developing the disorder.

High blood pressure is not a normal part of aging.

The likelihood of developing high blood pressure increases with age — for men and women. But high blood pressure is not something older adults must accept or live with. No matter what your age is, hypertension can be controlled — and should always be treated. A healthy blood pressure leads to a longer and more comfortable and active life.

Women get high blood pressure as often as men.

Of the approximately 73 million adults who have high blood pressure, nearly half are women. After menopause, a woman’s risk of developing hypertension is actually higher than that of a man her age. In some women, pregnancy or taking birth control pills can make blood pressure rise.

When treating hypertension, the goal is not to get the patient off medicine.

Actually, the treatment goal is to get blood pressure to a healthy level and keep it there. “If you need to stay on medicine to keep your pressure down, don’t be frustrated,” says Dr. Desvigne-Nickens. “Instead, pat yourself on the back for finding a way to control your numbers.”

Even a healthy lifestyle can’t always prevent high blood pressure — but it’s a good start.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle is always a good idea — but high blood pressure can strike anyone, at any age. Why? “This is a complex disorder — and as hard as researchers are working to understand why it develops, we still haven’t completely solved that puzzle,” says Dr. Desvigne-Nickens. “Nevertheless, research has been very successful in identifying how to control blood pressure. Further, there is strong evidence that control of blood pressure and risk factors decreases the risk for problems with the heart, kidneys, eyes and limbs.”

Still, making healthy choices every day — such as exercising daily, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, managing stress, and avoiding alcohol and tobacco — is a winning strategy. Doing so not only reduces your risk of developing hypertension, but it also lowers your risk of developing many other serious diseases.

Special Risks for African-Americans

If you are African-American, you have special reason to keep close tabs on your blood pressure. African-Americans are much more likely to develop hypertension than any other racial or ethnic group. What’s more, the condition tends to strike at a younger age and be more severe.

Studies show that high blood pressure is the major reason that African-Americans die at an earlier age. Many of these deaths are related to kidney failure and type 2 diabetes — conditions that are worsened by uncontrolled high blood pressure. Strokes and heart attacks, vision problems, and poor blood circulation are also directly linked to high blood pressure.

Even if there is a long history of high blood pressure in your family, you can break the cycle and keep yourself and your family healthy. Getting your pressure checked regularly; taking prescribed medicine every day; following a doctor-recommended diet; and adopting an active, fit lifestyle will keep you and your loved ones feeling your best for years to come.

What's Your Number

You can recite your birth date, phone number and Social Security number — but do you know your blood pressure? Where your health is concerned, this number is a true vital statistic.

Blood pressure refers to the force that blood exerts against the walls of your arteries when your heart beats and rests. If the force is too strong, you have high blood pressure. The only way to know whether your blood pressure is normal or too high is to get it checked.

Blood pressure monitoring should begin at age 18. At the minimum, if your blood pressure is normal, you should have it checked every couple of years. If you have a personal or family history of high blood pressure — or if you smoke, are overweight or are inactive — your doctor may advise earlier and more frequent testing.

Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers, with one number written above or before the other. The first number is systolic pressure, and it measures the pressure in blood vessels when your heart pumps your blood. The second number, diastolic pressure, measures the force of the blood in vessels when your heart rests between beats.

Your blood pressure is lower than 120/80.

Congratulations — this is a healthy measurement. Blood pressure can change through the years, so keep getting yours checked — and live a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 139/89.

A reading in this range is considered prehypertensive, which is a red flag. Without making lifestyle changes to lower your pressure, you will develop hypertension. Your doctor will recommend healthy eating and exercise habits to help lower your blood pressure.

Your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher.

You have high blood pressure — even if just one of your numbers is in this range. Your doctor will prescribe healthy lifestyle changes and, if your blood pressure remains high, medication. To maintain a healthy blood pressure, you’ll also need to quit smoking; follow a nutritious, low-sodium diet; cut back on alcohol; exercise more; and maintain a healthy weight. Although hypertension is a serious diagnosis, it is treatable. By working closely with your doctor, and making healthy choices every day, you can lower your risk for complications.

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan can help you manage your blood pressure. Visit www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/new_dash.pdf for more information.

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