Racquel Wright, Natalya Cummings, Balraj Kaur, Michelle Jimenez

NOT TOO HIGH, NOT TOOLOW, BUT JUST RIGHT!

UNDERSTANDING YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE AND MANAGING HYPERTENSION

Today We’ll Talk about…

What does your heart do?

What is blood pressure?

What should your blood pressure numbers be?

What are the signs/symptoms of high and low blood pressure?

What do you do if your blood pressure numbers are too high or too low?

Your Heart

It looks like an ice-cream cone! Pointed bottom Rounded top Hollow Can fill up with

blood

More about Your Heart

– In middle of chest

– Between your lungs

– Size of fist

– Tipped over• More on left side

– Is a muscle• Acts like a pump

Your heart sends blood to the whole bodyOxygenNutrientsCarries away waste

Heart Parts: Arteries Capillaries Veins

Blood Pressure Measurement

Force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries• Force• Amount of

blood • Size • Flexibility of the

arteries

Steps to follow before Taking your Blood Pressure

Don’t use 30 minutes prior to taking your blood pressure: Caffeine, Alcohol, or Tobacco.

Go to the bathroom. Rest 3-5 minutes before taking

your blood pressure. Sit comfortably.

Legs and ankles uncrossed Back supported

Tips for Accurate Use

Same time of day Use the same arm

Left Don’t measure

immediately upon waking up, or

immediately after exercising. Wait an hour.

Remember Blood Pressure….

Varies throughout the day

Is often higher in the morning

Talk about your personal blood pressure goals with your doctor.

Risk Factors

Age Race Family history Being overweight or

obese. Not being physically

active. Certain chronic

conditions i.e high cholesterol, diabetes, kidney disease and sleep apnea.

Risk Factors

Using tobacco. Too much salt

(sodium) in your diet. Too little potassium

in your diet Too little vitamin D in

your diet. Drinking too much

alcohol. Stress

Causes

Primary (essential) hypertensionFor most adults, there's no identifiable cause of high blood pressure.

Secondary hypertensionSome people have high blood pressure caused by an underlying condition. Various conditions and medications can lead to secondary hypertension, including:

Kidney problems Adrenal gland tumors Certain defects in blood vessels you're born with (congenital) Certain medications, such as birth control pills, cold remedies,

decongestants, over-the-counter pain relievers and some prescription drugs

Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines

What Does Your Blood Pressure Reading Mean?

Normal

• Less than 120• Less than 80

Pre-hypertension

• 120-139• 80-89

High Blood Pressure – Stage 1

• 140-159• 90 – 99

High Blood Pressure – Stage 2

• 160 or higher• 100 or higher

Why Worry about High Blood Pressure?

Heart gets larger• Leads to

heart failure• Heart

can’t pump enough blood throughout the body.

Small bulges in blood vessels• “Aneurysms”

• Main artery from the heart

• Arteries in the brain, legs, and intestines

• Artery to the spleen

Blood vessels in kidneys narrow• Kidne

y failure

Arteries in the body harden faster• Heart

attack • Stroke• Kidney

failure • Amputati

on of part of the leg

Blood vessels in the eyes burst or bleed• Vision

changes

• Blindness

Signs/Symptoms

Hypertension (high BP) Hypotension (low BP)

• Headache Dizziness

• Dizziness Fainting • Shortness of breath Blurred vision

• Blurred vision Cold, clammy skin

• Nausea Rapid, shallow breathing

• Fatigue or confusion Nausea

• Pounding in your chest Thirst

• Irregular heartbeat

• Chest pain

Treatment

All patients with blood pressure readings greater than 120/80 should be encouraged to make lifestyle modifications, such as eating a healthier diet, quitting smoking, and getting more exercise. Treatment with medication is recommended to lower blood pressure to less than 140/90. For patients who have diabetes or chronic kidney disease the recommended blood pressure is less than 130/80.

  Thiazide diuretics. Diuretics sometimes called water pills, are medications that act

on your kidneys to help your body eliminate sodium and water, reducing blood volume. Ex: Aldoril, Diachlor, Diuril

  Beta blockers. These medications reduce the workload on your

heart and open your blood vessels, causing your heart to beat slower and with less force. Ex: atenolol, metoprolol

Treatment 

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the formation of a natural

chemical that narrows blood vessels. Ex: vasotec, lisinopril

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). These medications help relax blood vessels by blocking the action of a natural

chemical that narrows blood vessels. Ex losartan, valsartan  Calcium channel blockers. These medications help relax the muscles of your blood vessels. Some slow your

heart rate. Calcium channel blockers may work better for blacks and older adults than do ACE inhibitors or beta blockers alone. A word of caution for grapefruit lovers, though. Grapefruit juice interacts with some calcium channel blockers, increasing blood levels of the medication and putting you at higher risk of side effects. Ex: procardia

  Renin inhibitors. slows down the production of renin, an enzyme produced by your kidneys that starts

a chain of chemical steps that increases blood pressure. Ex: tekturna

Lifestyle Changes

Eat healthy foods. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet: fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods.

Decrease the salt in your diet. A lower sodium level — 1,500 milligrams (mg) a day —

Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even 5 pounds (2.3 kilograms) can lower your blood pressure.

Alternative Medicine Although diet and exercise are the best tactics to

lower your blood pressure, some supplements also may help decrease it. These include:

Alpha-linolenic acid Blond psyllium Calcium Cocoa Cod-liver oil Coenzyme Q10 Omega-3 fatty acids Garlic While it's best to include these supplements in

your diet as foods, you can also take supplement pills or capsules

You can also practice relaxation techniques, such as yoga or deep breathing, to help you relax and reduce your stress level.

Alternative methods Increase physical

activity. Limit alcohol Don't smoke. Tobacco

injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries.

Manage stress Monitor your blood

pressure at home Practice relaxation or

slow, deep breathing.

How Often Should You Check Your Blood Pressure? • A few days every month if you… have well controlled blood pressure More often if you… just started home monitoring of your blood

pressure changed medications have health problems

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/high-blood-pressure/HI00016

Call Your Doctor When…

Your blood pressure is higher or lower than normal, and you have: Severe headache, or Chest pain, or Numbness, or Tingling Dizziness or fainting Cold, clammy skin Rapid, shallow breathing

Start Monitoring

Easy Convenient It betters your

health. Try it!

Questions?

References

Touhy, T. A., & Jett, K. F. (2010). Ebersole and Hess' Gerontological Nursing & Healthy Aging (3rd ed.). St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010), High blood pressure. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/

Mayo Clinic. (2012, Aug. 10). Blood pressure charts. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/blood-pressure/HI00043