Know your blood pressure. It's important

It's often believed that hypertension has something to do with stress... but this is unfortunately, a widespread misconception. Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure that the blood exerts on blood vessels. It's somewhat similar to the plumbing in your home, where the veins and arteries are the pipes, the heart is a pump and the different organs are the joints between the pipes.

What happens when there's too much pressure in the plumbing system? The pump (the heart) has to work harder, because there's greater resistance to the pumping of blood into the pipes (arteries), and the joints (the organs) wear out faster. So, if your blood pressure isn't controlled, you can suffer from a myocardial infarction (heart attack), kidney failure (kidneys performing below par and sometimes requiring a transplant) or a cerebrovascular accident (stroke), which can lead to total or partial paralysis. Eventually, these problems can become a cause of death. That is why high blood pressure must be treated.

Blood pressure fluctuates during a given day, depending on the level of activity, time of day, degree of fatigue, use of tobacco, consumption of alcohol, and many other things. Since these are common variables, and since it's normal for pressure to rise after physical activity, smoking, etc., you should be careful when taking your blood pressure to follow certain rules. It's generally recommended that you take your pressure while sitting or lying down, after a five- to ten-minute break, and at least 30 minutes after your last cup of coffee or cigarette. As a general rule, your blood pressure should be lower than 140/90 mmHg. If it's higher than this, see your doctor for more readings and to find out if anything should be done. Your doctor must get three

or more high readings before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. Sometimes, your doctor may insist that your pressure be lower than 1 30/80mmHg, particularly if you suffer from angina, diabetes or heart failure, or have had a stroke. You can measure your blood pressure yourself at home using specially designed devices. Ask your pharmacist to help you select the most appropriate device for you.

Luckily, there's a painless way of measuring your blood pressure to determine if it's too high. But what does the blood pressure reading really mean? It shows two sets of numbers. The first, which is the higher number, represents systolic pressure, which is blood pressure while the heart is contracting and pushing blood into the arteries. The second indicates diastolic pressure, which is blood pressure while the heart is at rest and is filling up with blood. The two sets of numbers are expressed in millimetres of mercury, which is the standard measure of pressure. Hence, if a person has a pressure of 150/95 mmHg, his pressure would be read as 150 over 95 millimetres of mercury. But how do you know if this is too high?

Even with all the willpower and discipline in the world these measures still may not be enough. However, you shouldn’t give up. Instead you should combine these measures with medication prescribed by your doctor. You may have one or more drugs to take. They act differently to control your blood pressure. These drug can reduce your body's liquid content by making you urinate more often, which eliminates water. They can also increase the diameter of the arteries to reduce the level of resistance and hence pressure. Regardless of the medication prescribed, the important thing is to take it regularly as prescribed. If you feel that the drugs you're taking are having a negative impact or are ineffective, don't hesitate to talk to your pharmacist. He may, if necessary, contact your doctor to help him choose the most appropriate medication for you.

There are simple measures you can take to help control your blood pressure.

Lose excess weight. Check if your weight is healthy. Your pharmacist can help you calculate your body mass index.

Exercise regularly. If you are not already participating in any physical activity, consult your doctor before starting a program.

Quit smoking. Even if you're a long-time smoker, you can still quit. However, you must be well prepared and have good support. Some drugs can help you. But remember that quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health.

Cut down on alcohol. You shouldn't have more than two alcoholic drinks a day.

Reduce your salt intake. Don't add salt to your meal. Avoid canned meats, precooked meals and fast food, because they contain a lot of salt. Cook with fine herbs and lemon juice. This makes food tastier... but doesn't raise your blood pressure!

Courtesy - Liverpool Pharmacy 715 Krosno Blvd