Stroke Smart Magazine
May/June 2009
PREVENTION
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High Blood Pressure & Stroke
Nearly One-Third of Those Afflicted Don’t Know They Have It
The truth is, what you don’t know can hurt you. Doctors have
long called high blood pressure, or hypertension, “the silent killer” because
often there are no symptoms. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to
life-threatening medical problems such as stroke, heart attack or kidney
failure. As many as 50 million Americans age 6 and older have high blood
pressure. Of the one in every four adults with high blood pressure, 31.6
percent are not aware they have it.
High blood pressure is one of the most common causes of
stroke because it puts stress on blood vessel walls, causing them to thicken
and erode. This can lead to a stroke.
When blood vessel walls thicken with increased blood
pressure, cholesterol or other fat-like substances might break off of artery
walls and block a brain artery. Also, the added stress can weaken blood vessel
walls, leading to a vessel breakage and a brain hemorrhage.
Causes of High Blood Pressure
In most cases, it’s impossible to pinpoint the cause of high
blood pressure. There are, however, a number of factors that have been linked
to high blood pressure including:
- A family history of high
blood pressure.
- Age – The incidence of
high blood pressure rises in men after age 35 and in women after age 45.
- Gender–Men are more likely
to have high blood pressure than women.
- Race–About 33 percent of
African-Americans have high blood pressure, compared to 25 percent of
Caucasians.
Other factors include excess weight, excessive alcohol consumption,
diabetes, lack of exercise and a high-salt diet.
Treatment
For most people, high blood pressure can be
controlled through diet, exercise, medication or a combination of all three.
Treatments might include:
- A diet low in salt and rich in vegetables, fruits and low-fat
dairy.
- Regular exercise approved by a health care provider might not
only aid in weight loss, but also help lower blood pressure.
- Medications prescribed by a health care provider are available
to treat high blood pressure. For stroke survivors, lowering blood pressure reduces
the risk of recurrent stroke.
Understanding the Numbers
A blood pressure reading is expressed with two numbers, for
example, 120/80. The first number is systolic blood pressure and measures the
force the blood exerts on blood vessel walls as your heart pumps. The second number
is diastolic blood pressure and measures the force the blood exerts on blood
vessel walls when your heart is at rest between beats.
Blood Pressure Basics
|
Category
|
Systolic (top number)
|
|
Diastolic (bottom number)
|
|
Normal
|
Less than 120
|
And
|
Less than 80
|
|
Pre-hypertension
|
120–139
|
Or
|
80–89
|
|
High -Stage 1
|
140–159
|
Or
|
90–99
|
|
High -Stage 2
|
160 or higher
|
Or
|
100 or higher
|
|
Ranges apply to most adults who don’t have
short-term serious illnesses.
|
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