Not sure what your blood pressure level is or why it matters? Learn more about this important factor of heart health through resources provided by Life Line Screening. You can take the first step toward regaining control of your health by scheduling a blood pressure screening today.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure measures how much force a person’s blood is putting on the artery walls as the heart pumps. High blood pressure, or hypertension, occurs when that person’s heart has to work extra hard to pump blood throughout the body. High blood pressure often happens when arteries lose their elasticity through hardening caused by cholesterol, plaque or scarring.

How Serious Is High Blood Pressure?

According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, about 1 in 3 American adults struggle with high blood pressure.1 While most Americans are aware that this disease can be dangerous, many find it difficult to get motivated to lower their blood pressure since they’re not experiencing symptoms. Unfortunately, high blood pressure contributes to countless deaths every year through complications like:

• Heart attack
• Congestive heart failure
• Stroke
• Kidney damage
• Vision loss
• Memory loss
• Angina

Do I Have High Blood Pressure?

It is important to have your blood pressure tested on a regular basis. The American Heart Association’s classifications of blood pressure for adults are:

Category	Systolic, mmHg	Diastolic, mmHg
Hypotension	Less than 90	Less than 60
Normal	90 – 119	60 – 79
Prehypertension	120 – 139	80 – 89
Stage 1 Hypertension	140 – 159	90 – 99
Stage 2 Hypertension	160 – 179	100 – 109
Hypertensive Crisis	Greater than 180	Greater than 110

 

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What Can I Do About It?

At Life Line Screening, we’re dedicated to helping people live healthier, longer lives. That’s why we test blood pressure as a part of every one of our heart screenings. Find heart screenings near you today. Keeping blood pressure low is one of the most important things you can do to prevent heart disease. Learn more about healthy living through our high blood pressure resource center.

Sources:

• http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html