One of our top 10 health tips is to know your numbers. Included in these personal numbers is your blood pressure. High blood pressure (hypertension) is a major risk factor for many life-threatening diseases including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and kidney failure. High blood pressure is known as the "silent killer" because there are no warning symptoms and because it is linked to so many serious illnesses. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Americans has high blood pressure. The only warning is to know your numbers.

Your blood pressure consists of two numbers. The first, higher number is known as the systolic pressure. This is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart beats and forces blood through the blood vessels. The second, lower number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure that remains in the blood vessels between beats when the heart relaxes and is filling back up with blood. Normal blood pressure is less than 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic).

Pre-hypertension is used to describe slightly elevated blood pressure that indicates you are at high risk for hypertension. Blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 is considered pre-hypertensive. Those who do not have high blood pressure at age 55 still have a 90% chance of developing high blood pressure. This means that most people will have hypertension at some point in their lives. There are many causes of high blood pressure. Narrowing of blood vessels, increased blood volume, and rapid or more forceful heart beats are among the causes. In most cases, the exact cause is not known.

Hypertension can often be prevented by adopting a health lifestyle. Steps to a healthy lifestyle include not smoking, drinking alcohol in moderation, being physically active, eating a healthy diet, reducing salt and sodium in your diet, and maintaining a healthy weight.

The importance of a healthy diet was highlighted in two clinical studies called DASH &$151; dietary approaches to stopping hypertension—and DASH-Sodium, which incorporated the reduction of sodium intake in the DASH eating plan. The biggest blood pressure lowering benefits were for those eating the DASH eating plan at the lowest sodium intake (1,500 mg per day). Current recommendations are less than 2.4 gm of sodium per day, which is about 6 gm (1 teaspoonful) of table salt per day. The DASH eating plan focuses on increasing foods rich in nutrients known to lower blood pressure—mainly the minerals potassium, calcium and magnesium, fiber and protein—while limiting saturated fat and cholesterol. Foods emphasized include fruits, vegetables, and fat-free dairy products. Other foods increased were whole grain products, fish, poultry and nuts. Foods reduced included red meat, sweets, sugars and sugar-containing beverages.

Medications are used to lower blood pressure when lifestyle changes cannot control it. Many different types of blood pressure medications are used. Often 2 or more medications are required to control blood pressure. Medication types include diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin antagonists, calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, alpha- and beta-blockers, nervous system inhibitors and vasodilators. There are many different drugs in each class. Each class has specific mechanisms of action and side effects. Your pharmacist is your most accessible resource for information regarding your blood pressure medications.

Key to controlling your blood pressure is regular monitoring. Call Taos Pharmacy today, at 505-758-3342, to schedule your blood pressure check. Follow the second web site link below for the complete DASH eating plan.

References: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html, http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/hbp/dash/index.htm.

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