What You Need to Know What You Need to Know About About High Blood High Blood

PressurePressure, , SaltSalt, and , and SodiumSodium

What is Blood Pressure?What is Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure Blood Pressure – Is the Is the forceforce of the blood against the walls of of the blood against the walls of

your arteries. (like the pressure of water in the your arteries. (like the pressure of water in the garden hose)garden hose)

– Arteries transport Arteries transport oxygenoxygen and nutrients to the and nutrients to the body, which are vital to survivebody, which are vital to survive

Why is Blood Pressure Important??Why is Blood Pressure Important??

– It allows blood to move through your It allows blood to move through your body.body.

– If it becomes too high, it can cause If it becomes too high, it can cause serious health problemsserious health problems

Normal Blood PressureNormal Blood Pressure Blood Pressure is measured by a Blood Pressure is measured by a SphygmomanometerSphygmomanometer or a or a

stethoscope either manually or automaticallystethoscope either manually or automatically

Two numbers are read:Two numbers are read:

The The SystolicSystolic Blood Pressure (120) Blood Pressure (120)- Systolic means that the heart is pumpingSystolic means that the heart is pumping- The heart is in a state of The heart is in a state of contractioncontraction

The The DiastolicDiastolic Blood Pressure (80) Blood Pressure (80)- Diastolic means that the heart is at restDiastolic means that the heart is at rest- The heart is atThe heart is at restrest

Facts about High Blood Facts about High Blood PressurePressure

Having HBP makes your heart pump Having HBP makes your heart pump harderharder than it should to get blood to all than it should to get blood to all parts of the body. parts of the body.

The increased blood pressure allows The increased blood pressure allows more blood to be pumped to the body more blood to be pumped to the body to help the body cope with increased to help the body cope with increased activity or stress.activity or stress.

Facts about High Blood Facts about High Blood PressurePressure

– In 2002, it killed 49,707 individualsIn 2002, it killed 49,707 individuals

– 1/3 Americans suffer from HBP1/3 Americans suffer from HBP

– As many as 65 million Americans ageAs many as 65 million Americans age 66 and older have high blood pressure. and older have high blood pressure.

Another name for HBP is Another name for HBP is HypertensionHypertension A systolic of 140A systolic of 140 and a diastolic over 90 mm and a diastolic over 90 mm

Hg is considered high for Adults.Hg is considered high for Adults.

It is diagnosed after a trend is seen by your It is diagnosed after a trend is seen by your doctordoctor

Stroke

Heart Attack

Kidney failure

Blindness

Having HBP is life threatening.

Health ProblemsHealth Problems

HBP has noHBP has no symptoms and therefore symptoms and therefore called the called the silentsilent KillerKiller

Thirty percent of people with high blood Thirty percent of people with high blood pressure don't know they have it pressure don't know they have it

– HBP can affect people of ALL ages, even HBP can affect people of ALL ages, even young adultsyoung adults

– It has It has nono curecure,, but can be treated and but can be treated and controlledcontrolled

– If your parents have HBP it will put you at If your parents have HBP it will put you at risk but doesn’t necessarily mean you will risk but doesn’t necessarily mean you will get itget it

– HBP can be prevented by exercising HBP can be prevented by exercising moderatelymoderately and having a healthy diet and having a healthy diet

Risk Factors for High Blood Risk Factors for High Blood PressurePressure

Eating salty and fatty foodsEating salty and fatty foods Lack of Physical ActivityLack of Physical Activity StressStress SmokingSmoking Being overweight raises your Being overweight raises your

chances of having HBP chances of having HBP 2 to 32 to 3 times times Drinking alcohol raises blood Drinking alcohol raises blood

pressurepressure HeredityHeredity

**You need to be physically active in order to prevent High Blood Pressure**

Salt and SodiumSalt and Sodium Reducing intake of salt and sodium by itself Reducing intake of salt and sodium by itself

reducesreduces the risk of hypertension the risk of hypertension

In the U.S., people consume between 4,000-In the U.S., people consume between 4,000-6,000 milligrams of salt and sodium each day 6,000 milligrams of salt and sodium each day 8 to 128 to 12 times more than what our body times more than what our body needsneeds

Our body needs 500 mg of salt a day which is Our body needs 500 mg of salt a day which is about a quarter of a teaspoonabout a quarter of a teaspoon

Salt is a chemical compund: Salt is a chemical compund: NaClNaCl

Na- Sodium Cl- Na- Sodium Cl- ChlorineChlorine

How can we control the How can we control the amount of salt we consume amount of salt we consume

each day?each day? One of the best ways is to read the One of the best ways is to read the

Food Label!Food Label!

Food label offers a great variety of Food label offers a great variety of information including:information including:- Serving size - Serving size

- Sodium- Sodium

- Number of servings- Number of servings