Canadian Hypertension Society - http://hypertension.ca
Heart & Stroke Foundation - http://heartandstroke.ca
Sodium 101 - http://sodium101.ca
Dietary Sodium Initiative - http://lowersodium.ca
Canada's Food Guide - http://.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/index-eng.php
Canada's Physical Activity Guide - http://phac-aspc.gc.ca
Dash Diet - http://nhlbi.nib.gov/healt/public/heart/hbp/dash
Making the Connection - http://makingtheconnection.ca
Smoking Cessation - http://itscanadastime.com
Dieticians of Canada - http://dieticians.ca
American Heart Association - http://americanheart.org
Canadian Diabetes Association - http://diabetes.ca
Kidney Foundation of Canada - http://kidney.ca
Most people take a least two medication to help control their blood pressure. These medications are called antihypertensive. There are several families of antihypertensive medications, with different ways of lowering blood pressure. Your health care provider will assess and make adjustments depending on your individual blood pressure and situation.
You can purchase a home blood pressure monitor at most pharmacies, and some department stores. When buying a monitor ask for help from the pharmacist. It is very important to have the right size cuff that fits your arm properly. For approved devises visit http://hypertension.ca/chs
Canadian Hypertension Education Program (CHEP) recommends aiming to reduce your salt intake to:
- 1500mg of sodium for ages 18 to 50 yrs
- 1300mg of sodium for ages 50 to 70 yrs
- 1200mg of sodium for ages over 70 yrs
Most of the sodium in our diet comes from processed foods.
- 12% of natural content - naturally found in foods
- 77% comes from “hidden” sources – in the manufacturing process or restaurants
- 11% is from “conscious” sodium – added at the table (5%) and cooking (6%)
Even though you may feel well, uncontrolled blood pressure adds pressure on your blood vessels. This added pressure can damage the vessels over time and can lead to health problems. It can contribute to stroke, heart attack, or heart and kidney failure. It is also related to dementia and sexual dysfunction.
High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer”, as many people have no signs or symptoms.
No. Blood pressure normally varies throughout the day and in different situations. That is why several measurements must be taken at regular intervals to determine if an individual is diagnosed with hypertension.
There are many ways to help assist with your blood pressure control, such as;
- Achieving a healthy body weight
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Reducing your salt intake
- Avoid smoking
- Establish a regular exercise routine
- Manage your stress
- Take your medications as prescribed by your health care provider
- Learn to do self monitoring
Most people blood pressure reading should be less than 140/90 mmHg with readings of 135/85 mmHg at home. People with diabetes and kidney disease should be less than 130/80 mmHg.
Masked Hypertension is when you have normal blood pressure measurements in the physician’s office but high readings in other situations, such as at home. This is sometimes difficult to determine unless you are correctly measuring your blood pressure at home.
If you are diagnosed with Masked hypertension it is important to monitor your blood pressure at home to allow your health care provide to make adjustments to your plan of care based on home readings.
White Coat hypertension is blood pressure that is elevated in the physicians office but not high during your usual daily activities.
If your are diagnosed with White Coat hypertension it is important to monitor your blood pressure at home to allow your health care provider to make adjustments to you plan of care based on your home readings.
Some risk factors for hypertension are not within your control (non modifiable). These include age, gender, race, ethnicity and family history. Other risk factors are modifiable (those that you can influence), such as; salt consumption, activity level, excess weight, smoking, alcohol consumption, and healthy eating.
Most people (90-95%) have essential hypertension. The cause sometimes remains unclear, but may be explained by the interaction of heredity, and/or lifestyle factors. Another 5% have secondary hypertension, which is caused by another medical condition. It is important to diagnose secondary hypertension because sometimes treating the cause can correct the hypertension.
Some medications, such as anti-inflammatories (NSAID’s), steroids, oral contraceptives, or flu medications containing pseudoephedrine, and some natural health food products, such as natural licorice, or ephedra can influence your blood pressure readings. Also alcohol consumption and a number of recreational drugs are known to affect your blood pressure.
It is a small machine with a blood pressure cuff attached. The machine is automatic and about the size of a portable radio. You wear it on a belt. The monitor is carried by a strap over your shoulder and monitor resting on your waist, opposite the site where the cuff is applied. This non-invasive machine take blood pressure reading over a 24 hour period, during which time, you go about your usual activities.
Everyone’s blood pressure (BP) changes throughout the day depending upon physical and mental activity. Blood pressure can vary in the physician’s office or in a clinic. Collecting several blood pressure readings over a 24- hour period of normal activities will give your nurse and physician information to help make a better assessment of your blood pressure.