About Blood Pressure
Blood pressure, by definition, is the force of the blood flow inside your blood vessels. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, such as 120/80, and is read "120 over 80." The first number is the pressure when your heart beats and pushes blood through your blood vessels. Medical professionals call this the "systolic" pressure. The second number is the pressure when your vessels relax between heartbeats. It's called the "diastolic" pressure.
The Information Behind the Numbers
Based on your blood pressure, you can be diagnosed with hypertension. Hypertension is when your blood moves through your vessels with too much force. Follow these guidelines to determine whether or not you have early high blood pressure or high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Healthy blood pressure: below 120/80
- Early high blood pressure: between 120/80 and 140/90
- High blood pressure: 140/90 or higher
Hypertension & Diabetes
Because of Type II diabetes, you are at an enhanced risk for high blood pressure (hypertension). This is because diabetes damages your arteries and makes them more likely to harden (this condition is known as atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can cause high blood pressures. If high blood pressure is not treated it can lead to blood vessel damage, stroke, heart failure, heart attack, or kidney failure. As a Type II diabetic you should get your blood pressure checked once or twice yearly. Hypertension is known as the silent killer because it has no symptoms, the only way you can realize you have high blood pressure is if you get it checked regularly by a doctor.
How to Lower your Blood Pressure
Here are some easy tips given by the American Diabetes Association to help reduce your blood pressure:
- Work with your health care provider to find a treatment plan that's right for you.
- Eat whole-grain breads and cereals.
- Try herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor foods.
- Check food labels and choose foods with less than 400 mg of sodium per serving.
- Lose weight or take steps to prevent weight gain.
- Limit alcohol consumption and consult your health care provider about whether it is safe to drink alcohol at all.
- If you smoke, get help to quit.
- Ask your health care provider about medications to help reduce high blood pressure. Samples of these types of medications include ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics.
Additional Information
To learn more about high blood pressure click here.