SAY IT OUT LOUD - SENIOR AND PROUD!
WHAT IS HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORY
SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
Normal
<120 mm Hg
<80 mm Hg
Elevated
120-129 mm Hg
<80 mm Hg
Stage 1 Hypertension
130-139 mm Hg
Stage 2 Hypertension
≥140 mm Hg
80-89 mm Hg
Source: CDC
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MAY/JUNE 2022 | OREGON JEWISH LIFE
≥90 mm Hg
8. ANOTHER HEALTH CONDITION The overproduction of a hormone called aldosterone can cause high blood pressure and even make it difficult to control with medication. Byrd says people who haven’t had any luck lowering their high blood pressure with multiple medications should talk to their doctor because “there’s a reasonably good chance that they have a condition called primary aldosteronism.” The condition often is missed, Byrd says, but medications can treat it. High blood pressure could also point to an issue with the kidneys or the thyroid gland. It can even signal low levels of potassium. Increasing the amount of potassium in your diet (fruits and vegetables are great sources) can lower blood pressure, Lloyd-Jones says. DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE USUAL SUSPECTS It’s important not to overlook the biggest drivers of high blood pressure in the U.S., chief of which is weight. If you’re overweight, losing even a few pounds can have a big impact on blood pressure — you can reduce
your numbers by 1 mm Hg for every 2.2 pounds you lose, according to the Mayo Clinic. And don’t discount your diet. Americans consume, on average, about 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium each day, the majority coming from packaged foods and restaurant meals. That number should be closer to 1,500 mg, the American Heart Association says. “There is too much sodium in our food supply, we are not getting enough physical activity, we are gaining too much weight, and we are drinking too much alcohol, and every single one of those things contributes to increasing blood pressure levels,” Lloyd-Jones says. To stay on top of your blood pressure, take your measurements often and “understand where you are on the spectrum,” LloydJones says. You can do this at home with a cuff-style biceps monitor. If you notice your blood pressure is starting to increase or if it’s already elevated (a systolic, or top, number that’s less than 120 and a diastolic, bottom, number less than 80 is considered normal), it’s important to be careful around the foods and habits that can make it worse, LloydJones adds. It’s also important to work with a doctor to find the best way to control it, be it with medications, lifestyle changes or both. “Home blood pressure monitoring is a really important and empowering way for patients to take control of this,” Lloyd-Jones says.
