What’s Your Blood Pressure?

Keeping your blood pressure at an optimum level—120/80 or below—is one of the most important factors when it comes to supporting your good health. Blood pressure indicates how much force your circulating blood is putting on the walls of your blood vessels, specifically those in your heart. We at Valhalla Wellness & Medical Centers closely monitor your pressure and, if necessary, help you take steps to make sure it’s at its best level.

Nearly half of America’s population over age 20 has high blood pressure (HBP; and also known as hypertension), and many don’t even realize it. Knowing your numbers is essential, because they send out an alert that extra strain is being put on your arteries and heart. You can then makes changes in your lifestyle so, over the course of time, this dangerous burden won’t make your arteries thicker, weaker and less flexible, which can result in one or more clogged arteries, blood clots, heart attack, stroke or kidney disease.

Blood pressure is measured by its systolic pressure (when the heart beats) and its diastolic pressure (when the heart relaxes). Those figures are imperative when examining your overall health. When recorded, the systolic number is above or before the diastolic number. For example, 120/80.

Treatment of hypertension includes these changes:

• Cutting down on salt.
• Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables every day.
• Drinking alcohol in moderation.
• Losing weight if you exceed your recommended BMI (body mass index).
• Exercising for at least 30 minutes five days a week; physical activity gives your heart a good workout and helps your arteries stay flexible.

Risk factors can increase your chances of developing HBP. You can manage some but not others. Controllable ones are:

• Smoking cigarettes and exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Being overweight or obese.
• High cholesterol.
• An unhealthy diet and low physical inactivity.

And then there are factors that can’t be modified or that are tough to dictate:

• A family history of HBP.
• Your race/ethnicity.
• Increasing age.
• Gender (males).
• Chronic kidney disease.
• Obstructive sleep apnea.

Some of the positive actions can lower your blood pressure in just weeks, while others can take a bit longer.

Valhalla Wellness & Medical Centers are dedicated to providing the highest quality of proficient and empathetic care. For more information about our practices and the variety of our services, please call us today.

By Valhalla Wellness & Medical Centers

September 24, 2020