Managing High Blood Pressure R

Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms at all.

There are no specific warning signs. The only way to find out if
Blood Pressure Q & A
you have high blood pressure is through regular monitoring.
Q . Why is the doctor’s reading different from the
reading taken at home?
What is Blood Pressure? A . Blood pressure can vary due to exercise or the environment
Blood pressure is the force exerted on the walls of your blood vessels (temperature, nervous condition). Particularly when measured
arteries as blood flows through them. at the doctor’s office, it is possible for blood pressure to increase
over readings taken at home due to anxiety and tension. It is
Your heart is like a pump. When it contracts, or beats, it sends a surge important to know your regular, relaxed blood pressure by
of blood through the blood vessels and pressure increases. This is called measuring at home.
systolic pressure. Q . Why are my blood pressure readings always different?
When your heart relaxes between beats, your blood pressure decreases. A . Your blood pressure changes constantly. Blood pressure
This is called your diastolic pressure. fluctuates from day to day and minute to minute according to
your body’s needs. For example, when you are exercising or
Normal blood pressure falls within a range - it’s not one set of numbers. angry your blood pressure increases, but when you are relaxing
But if you’re an adult, it should be less than 140/90 mmHg. If you or sleeping your blood pressure decreases. These fluctuations
have diabetes, renal insufficiency or heart failure, your doctor will are completely normal.
want it to be no higher than 130/85 mmHg. If your blood pressure Q . How important is it to monitor blood pressure at home?
goes above this threshold and stays there, you have high blood pressure.
A . One or two readings will not provide a true indication of your
normal blood pressure. It is very important to take regular, daily
What does high blood measurements and to keep accurate records. In partnership with
pressure do to your body? your doctor, an accurate record of your blood pressure over a
period of time can be a valuable aid in diagnosing and preventing
High blood pressure adds to the workload of the heart and arteries. potential health problems.
The heart must pump with more force, and the arteries must carry
blood that is moving under greater pressure. If high blood pressure
continues for a long time, the heart and the arteries may not function About Blood Pressure
as well as they should and other body organs may also be affected.
The 7th report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention
There is increased risk of stroke, heart failure, kidney failure
Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure from
and heart attack.
the National Institutes of Health classification is only a general
guideline because blood pressure depends on our age, morbidity, and
Blood Pressure Measurement treatment strategy by a physician. CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN
TO DETERMINE YOUR NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE.
When a doctor takes your blood pressure, he or she
measures both your systolic and diastolic pressures
and records them as numbers. For example, if your Systolic Diastolic
blood pressure reading is 126/76 (126 over 76), (mmHg) (mmHg)
your systolic is 126 and your diastolic is 76. The numbers are calculated
Normal < 120 < 80
in millimeters of mercury and recorded as 126/76 mmHg.
PreHypertension 120-139 80-89
These two numbers provide important information about your health. Stage 1 Hypertension 140-159 90-99
The more difficult it is for your blood to flow through your blood vessels,
Stage 2 Hypertension ≥ 160 ≥ 100
the higher both numbers will be. When blood pressure is consistently
above normal it is called hypertension (high blood pressure).

What can you do about high blood pressure?

If you have high blood pressure, you can do a lot to reduce it. Work with your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
It may include a low-fat diet, a low-salt diet, and changes to your habits such as quitting smoking, losing weight and getting
more exercise. Reducing your alcohol intake may be recommended. Many medicines also can help reduce and control high
blood pressure. Your doctor will decide whether you need medicine in addition to dietary and lifestyle changes.

High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. Once you begin to manage it and start a treatment
program, maintaining a lower blood pressure is easier. By controlling your high blood pressure, you’ll lower your risk of diseases
like stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney disease.

You can do it!

Accuracy Counts, Trust Omron™

 Daily Blood Pressure Log R

Name
Date AM SYS./DIA PM SYS./DIA.

Accuracy Counts, Trust Omron™

Omron Healthcare, Inc. is contributing to the fight against America’s number one killer by providing
this brochure to you.

Omron is a proud sponsor of the American For more information on high blood pressure, please contact the American Heart Association at
Heart Association High Blood Pressure
Web site, www.americanheart.org/hbp
1 (800)-AHA-USA1 www.americanheart.org/hbp.