A Simple Test To Save Your Life

Do you know if you have high blood pressure? Knowing if you have high blood pressure or hypertension is important to your overall health. Untreated, high blood pressure can cause a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure. It can also cause vision problems.

Know Your Numbers

Blood pressure is the force of your blood on the blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

The pressure on the blood vessels is higher when the heart contracts. This is the “systolic pressure” or the high number in your blood pressure rate. When your heart rests between beats, the pressure on your blood vessels is lower. This is the “diastolic pressure” or the lower number in your blood pressure rate. For example, if your blood pressure is 120/80, your systolic pressure is 120 and your diastolic pressure is 80.

The higher your blood pressure the harder your heart has to work to pump the blood through your system. The ideal blood pressure is lower than 120/80. Normal blood pressure is less than 130/85. If your blood pressure is between 130-139 over 85-89, you are likely to develop high blood pressure in the future. If your blood pressure is 140 or more over 90 or more, you need to talk to your physician as soon as possible, if you are not already under a physician’s care for high blood pressure.

Symptoms

Sometimes high blood pressure has no symptoms and you don’t know you have high blood pressure until it is too late. That is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. If your blood pressure is over the ideal or normal rates, you need to see your physician.

What Can You Do?

High blood pressure can be treated, but you need to know what your blood pressure is and monitor your blood pressure reading.

You can have your blood pressure checked each year during your annual routine physical exam. Benefits are provided under both Standard and Basic Option for an annual routine physical performed by a Preferred provider. If you do have high blood pressure, your physician may schedule additional tests, like an ultrasound of your heart. See Section 5(a) in the 2008 Service Benefit Plan brochure for more information about benefits for routine physical exams and screening tests, and for benefit information about diagnostic tests.

Many pharmacies also have equipment so you can self-check your blood pressure free of charge. Again, if your blood pressure is above normal readings you should see your physician.

There are also some changes you can make in your life that will help keep your blood pressure within safe levels.

1. Exercise 20-30 minutes each day to make your heart grow stronger and beat at a lower rate.

2. Change your diet to eat less saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat to help lower your blood pressure. This also includes eating less red meat, more chicken and fish and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

3. Limit the amount of salt you eat each day. When you eat lots of salt, the body retains liquids which make the heart work harder to push the extra fluid through your body.

4. Lose some weight. Extra weight strains the heart and causes your blood pressure to rise.

5. Get enough sleep and learn how to cope with the stress in your life.

6. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink each day to a glass of wine, one beer or one alcoholic beverage.

7. If you smoke, stop.

If the changes to your lifestyle do not lower your blood pressure, enough you should consult your physician.

Additional Resources

You can get more information about high blood pressure online at:

• Blue Health Connection, on this web site, offers information about heart conditions under the Heart Disease Condition Center. You can also develop an action plan to help you decrease your blood pressure.

• www.americanheart.org can help you with your diet and other lifestyle changes.

• www.webmd.com also has information about high blood pressure, what it is and why it is important to keep track of your blood pressure.

Written by Paula Spurway, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Resources include the 2008 Service Benefit Plan brochure, Blue Health Connection Heart Disease Condition Center, and webmd.com information about heart disease.