What is hypertension?
High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when the pressure of blood against the artery wall is higher than normal. It is often called The Silent Killer. High blood pressure increase your risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney and eye problems.
What is normal blood pressure?
Recent studies show that the risk of cardiovascular disease is less if your blood pressure remains in the normal range.
Diastolic | Systolic | Category |
80 | 120 | Normal |
85-89 | 130-139 | Pre-hypertension |
90-99 | 140-159 | High blood pressure stage 1 |
100 | 160 | High blood pressure stage 2 |
What are the signs and symptoms?
Symptoms include headache, dizziness, shortness of breathing, chest pain, blurred vision and possible nose bleed.
How to prevent blood pressure?
Maintain a healthy weight
If you are overweight, losing weight can help reduce your blood pressure. Obesity automatically raises blood pressure levels.
Become more physically active
Start with increasing your activity even five to 10 minutes at a time. Over time try building up to 30 to 45 minutes a day.
Consult your doctor before starting physical activity screen for lipid levels.
Develop healthy eating habits
Adopt healthy behaviours little by little and stick with them over time.
Eat a healthy diet
- Avoid anything with lots of sodium such as carbonated beverages, sodium bicarbonate
- Canned foods and fluids in general should be avoided
- Eat more fruit and vegetables
- Use less salt when cooking
- Buy foods labelled sodium free
- Low sodium or reduce sodium
- Take the salt shaker off the table
Don’t smoke
Nicotine raises blood pressure by causing the veins and arteries to contract.
Limit alcohol consumption.
Check blood pressure regulary and keep a record of it.
Consult your doctor
- You may need one or more medicines to lower your blood pressure. Take your medicine the way your doctor tells you
- Don’t stop taking your medicine if your blood pressure is ok, unless your doctor tells you. That means the medicine is working