Understanding High Blood Pressure — LifeSource Reference Chart

Educational reference chart: "Understanding High Blood Pressure" — published by LifeSource, covering causes, health risks, and guidelines for blood pressure, plus an overview of the LifeSource blood pressure monitor lineup.

What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of circulating blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels. It's affected by how hard the heart pumps, the amount of blood in the body, and the diameter of the blood vessels. Blood pressure increases when the heart pumps harder, blood volume increases, or vessel diameter decreases.

What Is High Blood Pressure?

More than 65 million Americans have high blood pressure (hypertension) — occurring when blood flows through the vessels at a pressure too high for long-term vascular health. A reading higher than 120/80 is generally considered unhealthy. Over time, vessel walls exposed to high pressure become damaged, leading to serious health problems.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

In 90–95% of cases the cause is unknown (essential/primary hypertension). Secondary hypertension — the least common type — can be caused by factors such as kidney abnormality, aortic structural abnormality, or narrowing of the arteries.

Risk Factors

• Family history of high blood pressure
• Race (African Americans have the highest incidence)
• Age (risk increases with age)
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes mellitus

Measuring Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is measured as systolic pressure (top number, heart contracting) over diastolic pressure (bottom number, heart resting), using a cuff and sphygmomanometer or digital monitor. The cuff tightens around the upper arm until blood flow through the brachial artery stops, then pressure is gradually released; sounds/vibrations in the artery during release determine the reading.

Blood Pressure Guidelines

Per the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute (NIH), more than 65 million Americans have hypertension and another 45 million are prehypertensive — 110 million people at risk.

Source: Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute — May 2003.

Effects of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure often has no symptoms until serious, often irreversible damage has occurred — earning it the nickname "the silent killer."

• Damage to the Heart: Heart disease/heart attack from fat deposits and blockages in arteries supplying the heart; congestive heart failure from the heart working too hard against elevated pressure.
• Damage to the Brain: Stroke — brain tissue dies when deprived of blood supply after an aneurysm ruptures or an artery is blocked by a clot or fat deposit. Cerebrovascular insufficiency — mini-strokes from bulging, bursting, or blocked arterioles, often without symptoms until damage accumulates.
• Damage to the Kidneys: Blood vessel damage narrows and stiffens arteries, reducing kidney blood flow; kidney disease can progress to failure as toxins accumulate.
• Damage to Blood Vessels: Artery walls thicken and harden from fat and calcium deposits ("hardening of the arteries"), reducing blood flow and potentially causing clots that block arteries locally or elsewhere.

Taking Control of Your Blood Pressure

• Measure blood pressure regularly at home.
• Maintain a low-fat diet.
• Decrease salt intake to less than a teaspoon per day (2,000 mg).
• Shed extra weight to decrease strain on your heart.
• Don't smoke.
• Restrict caffeine and alcohol consumption.
• Follow all physician instructions and take prescribed medications as part of your daily routine.
• Consult your physician about an appropriate exercise plan and follow it.
• Continue taking medication even after blood pressure reaches a good level.

Effective control of high blood pressure can prevent most of its complications.

LifeSource Monitor Lineup Referenced

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