High Blood Pressure
Despite more than a decade of nationwide effort, including public education and screening programs, high blood pressure is still a major contributing factor in many of the 1.5 million heart attacks and 400,000 strokes yearly in the US.
Abstract
What is blood pressure? Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. This blood travels through the circulatory system to the organs and muscles of the body, carrying the oxygen and nutrients they need to perform their functions. The force of the blood being pushed through the arteries causes pressure against their walls . This pressure, which is generally mea sured in the artery of the upper arm, is the blood pressure. In every individual, blood pressure normally goes up and down during the day and night, depending on a variety of factors, including activity level, diet, and emotions. Blood pressure is recorded as a fraction. The higher number is the systolic pressure; the lower, the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is measured when the heart beats, forcing blood through the arteries and putting maximum pressure against their walls. Diastolic pressure is measured when the heart relaxes between beats and fills with blood, and pressure against the artery walls drops. What is high blood pressure? Health care providers define high blood pressure (hypertension) as pressure that is higher than 140/90 when measured on several occasions. Some 58 million Americans have high blood pressure. Is high blood pressure that important? Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., and despite more than a decade of nationwide effort, including public education and screening programs, high blood pressure is still a major contributing factor in many of the 1.5 million heart attacks and 400,000 strokes yearly in the U.S.