Blood pressure is the force of blood against artery walls. When this force increases beyond optimal level, it is known as high blood pressure or hypertension. High blood pressure causes the heart to work too hard and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. When blood pressure rises above the normal range but hasn’t quite reached hypertension status, it qualifies as prehypertension. Having prehypertension makes it more likely that high blood pressure will develop unless you make diet and lifestyle changes.
How did I find out if I have it?
A sphygmomanometer—the technical name for a blood pressure cuff—gauges blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is 120/80 and below. High blood pressure begins at 140/90. Prehypertension falls in the middle of these reading.
Should I get tested?
“All adults should have their blood pressure checked every two years, even if it has been normal,” say Nieca Goldberg, MD, national spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and author of Women’s Healthy Program (Ballantine, 2006).
How can I ward it off?
“A good first step to lowering blood pressure is to reduce your intake of salt to no more than 2 grams of sodium per day,” Goldberg recommends. Part of the ongoing DASH diet study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, recently showed that a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products reduced blood pressure (Current Atherosclerosis Reports, 2005, vol. 7, no.6). in addition, regular aerobic exercise (several times a week) lowers blood pressure—even if you don’t exercise enough to lose weight. Of course, shedding a few extra pounds can slash blood pressure even more. – Victoria Dolby Toews
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