What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Blood pressure is written as two numbers. The top (systolic) number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom (diastolic) number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.
High blood pressure is when your blood pressure is consistently too high, which makes your heart work harder. When high blood pressure is left untreated, it can damage your circulatory system and kidneys, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
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What can I do?
Thankfully, many lifestyle changes can help you prevent and/or manage high blood pressure.
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- Keep tobacco ceremonial. The chemicals in commercial tobacco harm your heart and blood vessels. The Colorado Quitline is available to help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or www.coquitline.org.
- Maintain a healthy weight. A healthy weight means something different for everyone. Meet with your healthcare team to determine the best weight for you.
- Incorporate more traditional foods. Aim to make half your plate traditional fruits and vegetables to add color, flavor, vitamins, and minerals to your diet. Eating foods rich in potassium (peppers) and low in sodium (wild rice) can help with lowering blood pressure.
- Incorporate more traditional movement. Hiking, dancing, gardening, and walking will help get you moving up to 2.5 hours per week. Start with 1 or 2 days a week and work your way up, even if it means doing movement in smaller, shorter sessions.
- Consider medications. Lifestyle alone may not be enough to help you manage your blood pressure. Keep an open mind and positive attitude as you discuss medication therapy with your healthcare team.
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Have you checked your blood pressure recently?
Call 303-953-6600 to schedule an annual physical that includes a blood pressure reading or to meet your healthcare team if you have questions.
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Information and content provided by American Heart Association.
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