Health (need to be updated)

• Blood pressure


  The pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries
• Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day
• Systolic blood pressure


  Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats
• Diastolic blood pressure


  Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats
• Normal blood pressure


  Less than 120/80 mmHg
• High blood pressure (hypertension)


  Blood pressure that is higher than normal
• The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
• Blood pressure levels


  • Normal: systolic less than 120 mmHg, diastolic less than 80 mmHg
  • Elevated: systolic 120-129 mmHg, diastolic less than 80 mmHg
  • High blood pressure (hypertension): systolic 130 mmHg or higher, diastolic 80 mmHg or higher
• High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it
• Causes of high blood pressure


  • Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity
  • Can also happen during pregnancy
• High blood pressure


  Can damage your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes
• High blood pressure


  Can lead to heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease
• There's only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it
• Things that can help prevent or manage high blood pressure


  • Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week
  • Not smoking
  • Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
  • Keeping a healthy weight
  • Managing stress
  • Taking medicine (if needed)
• Blood pressure


  The pressure of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries
• Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day
• Systolic blood pressure


  Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats
• Diastolic blood pressure


  Measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats
• Normal blood pressure


  Less than 120/80 mmHg
• High blood pressure (hypertension)


  Blood pressure that is higher than normal
• The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, and stroke
• Blood pressure levels


  • Normal: systolic less than 120 mmHg, diastolic less than 80 mmHg
  • Elevated: systolic 120-129 mmHg, diastolic less than 80 mmHg
  • High blood pressure (hypertension): systolic 130 mmHg or higher, diastolic 80 mmHg or higher
• High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it
• Causes of high blood pressure


  • Unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and having obesity
  • Can also happen during pregnancy
• High blood pressure


  Can damage your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes
• High blood pressure


  Can lead to heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease
• There's only one way to know if you have high blood pressure: Have a doctor or other health professional measure it
• Things that can help prevent or manage high blood pressure


  • Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week
  • Not smoking
  • Eating a healthy diet, including limiting sodium (salt) and alcohol
  • Keeping a healthy weight
  • Managing stress
  • Taking medicine (if needed)
• Blood pressure


  The strength of the 'pushing' of blood against the artery walls as the heart pumps blood around the body
• Blood pressure changes throughout the day
• Blood pressure is lower when you're asleep or relaxing and goes up when you move around
• Blood pressure can also be increased by stress or extreme emotions and stimulants like nicotine or caffeine
• High blood pressure (hypertension)


  When your blood pressure is regularly higher than recommended levels
• High blood pressure can lead to damaged arteries and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney and eye damage
• How blood pressure is measured


  1. A cuff (thick band) is put over your arm, attached to a machine which measures the pressure inside your arteries

  2. The cuff tightens and then slowly loosens again

  3. The machine gives a blood pressure reading
• Blood pressure reading


  Contains two numbers - the first (top) number is the pressure when your heart beats (systolic pressure), the second (bottom) number is when your heart relaxes (diastolic pressure)
• For most people an ideal blood pressure is 120/75, or lower
• If you're already on high blood pressure medication, your ideal blood pressure will be 130/80 or below
• Home blood pressure monitoring


  Measuring your blood pressure on an ongoing basis at home using your own blood pressure monitor
• Risk factors for high blood pressure


  • Smoking or vaping with nicotine
  • Eating too much processed foods and salt
  • Drinking alcohol
  • Being overweight
  • Not being active enough
  • Being stressed
  • Having diabetes
  • Having kidney disease or other glandular problems
  • Getting older
  • Taking certain medications
  • Having a parent or sibling with high blood pressure