Blood Pressure

Definition of Blood Pressure Terminology

• Systolic (top number): pressure against the blood vessels during the contraction phase of heartbeat
• Diastolic (bottom number): pressure against the blood during a relaxation phase of heartbeat
• Risk Factor: a circumstance or trait that increases a person's chance of developing a disease or condition
• Activities of Daily Living (ADL): things that we do commonly (work, feed ourselves, go places)

Healthy ("normal") Increase in Blood Pressure

• During heavy lifts
• During and temporarily following aerobic exercise
• This includes activities of daily living (ADL)
• Examples
• Climbing Stairs
• Hurrying to a meeting

Risk Factors for Long-Term, Unhealthy High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

• Independent (non-controllable) Risk Factors
• Age: over 45 for men, 55 for women
• Gender: Hypertension occurs among men more often than women
• Race: African American people are more prone to having hypertension than Caucasian people
• Family History: If an immediate relative has high blood pressure, you are more likely to have it.
• Dependent (controllable) Risk Factors
• Being overweight or obese
• Not being physically active (sedentary)
• Using tobacco
• Too much salt (sodium) in your diet
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Stress

Ranges of Blood Pressure

• Normal
• 115-120/75-80mm Hg
• Consult your doctor if or when your BP is in the below categories
• Pre-hypertension
• 121-139/81-89mm Hg
• Stage 1 Hypertension
• 140-159/90-99mm Hg
• Stage 2 Hypertension
•  Greater than or equal to 160/100

Hypotension

• Abnormally low blood pressure
• Hypotension is generally considered as systolic blood pressure less than 90mm HG or diastolic less than 60mm Hg
• Blood pressure is generally considered too low only if noticeable symptoms are present
• Symptoms may include:
• Blurry vision
• Confusion
• Dizziness
• Fainting (syncope)
• Light-headedness
• Sleepiness
• Weakness
• Low blood pressure is commonly caused by drugs such as:
• Alcohol
• Anti-anxiety medications
• Certain antidepressants
• Diuretics
• Heart medicines, including those used to treat high blood pressure and coronary heart disease
• Medications used for surgery
• Painkillers

• Other causes of low blood pressure include:
• Advanced diabetes 
• Anaphylaxis (a life-threatening allergic response)
• Changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmias) 
• Dehydration 
• Fainting 
• Heart attack 
• Heart failure 
• Shock (from severe infection, stroke, anaphylaxis, blood loss, or heart attack. 

•  Prevention: If you have low blood pressure, your doctor may recommend certain steps to prevent or reduce your symptoms. This may include:

• Avoiding alcohol
• Avoiding standing for a long time (if you have NMH)
• Drinking plenty of fluids
• Getting up slowly after sitting or lying down
• Using compression stockings to increase blood pressure in the legs

Blood Cholesterol

Cholesterol:

• Is a protein that is found in plasma.
• Plays an important role in hormone use in the brain and building of healthy cells, as well as some vital hormones.

Types of Cholesterol:

• High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL): considered the "good" cholesterol. 
• Function: Deliver cholesterol to liver or hormone producing organs.
• Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL): Considered the "bad"cholesterol.
• Reason: This type of protein attaches to other proteins in the blood and over time can begin to deposit on the walls of blood vessels. This, in turn, leads to narrowing of the walls of blood vessels.

Lifestyle Choices Associated with Cholesterol:

• Maintain a healthy weight for your gender, age, height, and build.
• Losing excess weight, even 5-10 pounds, can help lower total blood cholesterol levels.
• Eat Heart-healthy foods.
• Examples: whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice); fruits and vegetables; fish (especially salmon, mackerel, and herring.
• Exercise regularly.
• 30-60 minutes of aerobic activity most days of the week can help improve cholesterol levels.
• Don't smoke. 
• If you currently smoke, don't be discouraged! Quitting can improve your HDL level.And the benefits don't end there. Just 20 minutes after quitting, your blood pressure decreases. Within 24 hours, your risk of heart attack decreases. Within one year, your risk of heart disease is half that of a smoker's. Within 15 years, your risk of heart disease is similar to that of someone who's never smoked.
• Drink alcohol only in moderation.
• This means one drink a day for women, and one to two drinks a day for men. 

Guideline Numbers for Total Cholesterol:

• Desirable: Below 200mg/dL
• Borderline high: 200-239mg/dL
• High: 240mg/dL

*Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter of blood in the United States and some other countries. Consider these numbers as general guidelines when you get your lipid panel (cholesterol test) results back to see if your cholesterol falls in optimal levels.