High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a leading cause of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It is called a “silent killer” because it often has no symptoms. The best way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked.
In honor of Blood Pressure Education Month this May, the American Heart Association is raising awareness through its “Love your heart. Lower the pressure.” campaign supported by Providence. The goal is to encourage people to know their numbers and work with health care professionals to keep their blood pressure in check.
“There’s actually a lot you can do to manage high blood pressure,” said Monica Ferguson, MD, an internal medicine physician with Providence who herself lives with hypertension. “Losing weight if you are overweight can help. Reducing your sodium intake, following a plant-based diet and exercising regularly are all things that can help lower blood pressure. But for many people, those things may not be enough, and medication may be required to get high blood pressure under control.”
After a routine exam revealed he had high blood pressure, Julian Allen, then in his 20s, was determined to lower his numbers. He learned how to make healthier, low-sodium dishes that taste good and adopted other strategies that he learned from his mother, who also has hypertension. Allen said he wants everyone to know that anyone can develop high blood pressure. “It is not just an older person’s problem. Knowing your blood pressure numbers is the first step to keeping it under control,” he said.
Blood pressure monitoring recommendations
According to the American Heart Association, people 20 years or older who have normal blood pressure should get a blood pressure check once a year.
Home monitoring is recommended for those with high blood pressure to help health care professionals know if treatments are working.
Choosing a home blood pressure monitor
The Association recommends using an automatic, cuff-style, upper arm (biceps) monitor. Wrist and finger monitors give less reliable readings. Make sure the cuff fits and that the monitor has been validated for accuracy. A list of validated options is available at validatebp.org.
How to use a home blood pressure monitor
Talk with a health care professional about how to measure your blood pressure at home and how often to take it. The American Heart Association recommends the following when preparing to take your blood pressure:
• Plan ahead. Avoid smoking, exercising,
eating and drinking caffeinated beverages 30
minutes before taking your blood pressure.
Empty your bladder. Measure before taking any
blood pressure medication.
• Don’t take the measurement over clothes.
Remove the clothing over the arm that will be
used to measure blood pressure. You can use
either arm.
• Sit correctly. Sit with your back straight and
supported on a dining chair, rather than a sofa.
Your feet should be flat on the floor with legs
uncrossed. Support your arm on a flat surface.
The middle of the cuff should be placed on the
upper arm at heart level.
• Be still. Rest quietly for five minutes before
measuring. Don’t talk or use your phone.
• Measure at the same time every day and track
results. Take two readings one minute apart
and use a printable tracker to record your
numbers. If your monitor has built-in memory
to store your readings, take it with you to your
medical appointments.
What the numbers mean
A healthy blood pressure is less than 120 over 80. Blood pressure is elevated when the numbers are 120 to 129 over less than 80. Consistent blood pressure readings of 130 over 80 or higher indicate hypertension. Work with a health care professional to reduce health risks. If blood pressure exceeds 180 over 120, it is considered a hypertensive crisis. Seek medical attention immediately.
Learn more about high blood pressure at heart.org/bp. Videos of Dr. Ferguson sharing blood pressure management tips and of Allen talking about his personal experience with hypertension can be viewed here.