High blood pressure can affect anyone. However there are some groups of people who are more likely to have it.
· If you have a family history of high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack you are more likely to have high blood pressure yourself
· If you are black then you are more likely to have high blood pressure than the rest of the population in the United Kingdom; you may be more sensitive to salt in your diet and more likely to have a stroke. If you are South Asian then you are more likely to have diabetes or a heart attack which means that it is important for you to keep your blood pressure and cholesterol levels well controlled. The reasons for this are not fully understood.
· Some other conditions are also linked to high blood pressure, such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease. If you have any of these conditions then it is even more important that your blood pressure is identified and well controlled.
· Your lifestyle can also affect your blood pressure. If you are overweight, eat too much salt and not enough fruits and vegetables, are physically inactive and drink too much alcohol you are more likely to have high blood pressure.
· Blood pressure also goes up as we get older. At least half of all people over the age of 75 have high blood pressure

Whereas you cannot change your genes, or the fact that you will grow older, you can change your lifestyle. Changing your diet and exercising more will lower your blood pressure. This is something that everyone should do but is particularly important if you have high blood pressure as it may avoid the need for tablets.

How do I know if I've got high blood pressure?

High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms, which is why many people do not know that they have it. For this reason high blood pressure is sometimes called the 'silent killer'. The only way to know whether you have high blood pressure or not is to have it measured. This is why it is important for you to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Think of it as part of an MOT for your body, and a number that you should know in the same way that you would know how much you weigh or how tall you are. In other words, "Know your Numbers!"

CARA SOCIETY holds Know Your Numbers! week every July and during this week thousands of places throughout the UK offer blood pressure testing for free.

Need to know more?

CARA SOCIETY has a booklet called Our Blood Pressure and Us, which cover these areas, and is also available in large print format.

Having Your Blood Pressure Measured and How often do I need to have my blood pressure checked?
Everyone should know what their blood pressure is. Think of it as part of your body's MOT and a number you know, in the same way that you know how much you weigh or how tall you are. In other words, Know Your Numbers!

The higher your blood pressure, whatever it is, the high your risk of a stroke or heart attack. This is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Even if your blood pressure is 'normal', i.e., below 140/90mmHg, it is still important to know your numbers, so that you can keep track of your blood pressure and follow the guidelines for a healthy lifestyle. By doing this you may be able to prevent high blood pressure.

All adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years but preferably more often. This is especially true, as you get older, as blood pressure goes up with age. From year to year your blood pressure may rise, and the only way that you will know this is to have it checked regularly. If your blood pressure is on the high side of 'normal' (between 130/85 and 139/89 mmHg) or if you have had a previous high reading at anytime before, you should get it checked every year. If you see that your blood pressure is rising you can make changes to your lifestyle that will help to lower it. If you have high blood pressure, how often you need to be measured will depend upon what treatment you are having.

How is blood pressure measured?

Your blood pressure can be measured either by using a machine called a sphygmomanometer (spig-mom-an-om-eter) or by using an automatic machine.

A sphygmomanometer is the older kind of equipment that measures blood pressure using a column of mercury. The person taking your blood pressure will put a cuff around the top of your arm, pump up this cuff and then listen for sounds through a stethoscope placed on your arm. The sounds heard through the stethoscope will start and then finish at certain points on the mercury column, and this will give the reading for your blood pressure.

There are also automatic digital machines that can measure blood pressure. They also use a cuff around your arm and will give a readout of your blood pressure.

What do the numbers mean?

When you have your blood pressure measured, it is written down as two numbers, one over the other like a fraction.

For example:
140/90mmHg
It is said as "140 over 90," for example. The top number, which is called the systolic pressure, shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart is forcing blood through them. The bottom number, called the diastolic pressure, shows the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes. The top number can be anywhere from 90 to 240 and the bottom number can be anywhere from 60 to 140. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury, which is written down as: mmHg

Everyone has a different blood pressure and it can change in the same person during the day and night. Your blood pressure varies by large amounts, depending on what you are doing. The lowest blood pressures occur when you are asleep or if you relax all your muscles. Standing up, exercising or anxieties all cause an increase in blood pressure. In a single day your blood pressure may vary by 30 to 40 mmHg systolic with similar proportionate changes in diastolic pressure. This is why when you have your blood pressure level assessed it is so important to have it measured under the same conditions every time.

What should my blood pressure be?

140/90mmHg is the level of blood pressure used to diagnose high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is consistently raised at these levels and above, it will need to be treated. Treatment may involve making changes to your lifestyle and/or taking medication. This level of 140/90 mmHg is the level for high blood pressure for everyone, whether you are male or female, young or old.
High blood pressure can be a systolic reading of 140 or above, a diastolic reading of 90 or above, or both. For example, a reading of 150/85 mmHg is high because the systolic is above 140; a reading of 139/95 mmHg is high because the diastolic is above 90. A reading of 150/95 mmHg is also high as both the systolic and the diastolic number are raised. As you get older you may find that your diastolic level is normal but your systolic level starts to rise and this is called isolated systolic hypertension. This is common among older people, and still needs to be treated.

140/85 mmHg is the target blood pressure for people who are receiving treatment for their high blood pressure. The only exception to this target level is if you have diabetes, kidney disease or have already suffered a stroke or heart attack. Then it is worthwhile lowering your blood pressure even further and your doctor may as you to lower your blood pressure to 130/80 mmHg.

When you have your blood pressure measured, always ask what it is and keep a record if you can. By doing this you can see whether your blood pressure is stable or is increasing.

Article continued on Page 3

Page 2 of 10 next