Blood Pressure Screening

The Parish Nurse Ministry will be doing blood pressure screening periodically. The nurses will be in the parish offices following the end of mass (after the final song).

On A Healthy Note

“Faith comes from hearing the message."
~Romans 10:17

Blood Pressure

The Parish Nurse Ministry has been providing blood pressure screenings once a month for the past several years. We would like to reinforce the importance of having your blood pressure checked regularly and to answer some of the questions that come up when we have taken blood pressures each month. As a matter of trivia on a productive weekend screening we only see about 30-40 parishioners and they are people who have their blood pressure under control. On a slow weekend we may only see 15 people. Our goal as Parish Nurses is to screen the people who do not know what their blood pressure is along with checking those people who have their blood pressure under control.

What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure means the pressure in your arteries is consistent above the normal range. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the blood vessel walls. It is written as two numbers, such as 122/78. The top systolic number is the pressure when the heart beats. The bottom, diastolic number is the pressure when the heart is at rest. High blood pressure is a consistently elevated pressure of 140 systolic or higher and 90 diastolic and higher. Both numbers need to be under control not just one or the other. There is a condition called isolated systolic blood pressure where the systolic blood pressure is elevated above 140 but the diastolic blood pressure stays with the normal range that is 90 or lower. This type of high blood pressure is more common in older adults. In fact, the majority of people over age 60 who have high blood pressure, have isolated systolic high blood pressure.

High blood pressure or hypertension is the number one contributor to cardiovascular disease in adults resulting in death. Your heart will beat approximately 100,000 times today. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood through your blood vessels. You have three types of blood vessels -- arteries, veins, and capillaries. The force of blood against the inside walls of your blood vessels plus your vessels' resistance to blood flow create blood pressure. If the blood pressure is too high, it can damage the vessels and restrict blood flow to vital organs. High blood pressure that is not treated may result in eye and kidney damage, stroke, heart failure and other serious problems.

The new medical guidelines state that a normal blood pressure for most adults is less than 120/80. Drug treatment is recommended if the pressure is higher than 140/90 and for those with diabetes the treatment guideline is 130/80 or above.

Blood pressure reading is shown as two numbers. The two numbers are usually written as a fraction, i.e. 140/90. These numbers measure the pressure against the walls of your blood vessels. The top number, known as the systolic pressure, measures the pressure against the walls of your vessels when your heart is pumping blood to your organs. The bottom number, diastolic, is measuring the pressure against your vessel walls when your heart is between beats and is resting. These numbers show how hard your blood is pushing against the inside walls of your blood vessels.

What causes high blood pressure?
This is one of the frequent questions we hear asked. The exact cause is unknown but it is known one or more of the following may cause high blood pressure:

• Blood vessels that are too narrow, which makes the heart work harder to push the blood through them.
• Blood vessels that are stiff and can't expand when blood is pushed through them.
• Blood with excessive sodium and water. This increases the amount of fluid in the blood, so when the heart pumps blood through the body, the pressure against the walls of the blood vessels increases.

The higher the blood pressure number, the higher the risk for damage and cardiovascular disease. The risk of heart disease begins at 115/75. In individuals aged 40 to 70 years, each 20/10 mm Hg increase in blood pressure doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, stroke or kidney disease. This means that if your blood pressure is 155/95 you are 4 times more likely to have a heart attack than someone with a blood pressure of 115/75.

Who can be at risk for high blood pressure?
Anybody can be at risk for high blood pressure. We are even seeing a rise in blood pressure among our children and teens. Certain factors may put you at higher risk for hypertension. These include:

• People with a blood relative with hypertension, such as a mother, father, or sibling
• Men over the age of 55
• Women over the age of 65
• Post menopausal women
• African-Americans, especially women
• Some women who take birth control pills
• People who get little or no regular physical activity
• People who smoke
• People who are overweight
• People with high cholesterol
• People with diabetes

How can I tell if I have it?
You usually cannot tell if your blood pressure is high. The only way to know if your blood pressure is high is to get it checked regularly. Many people don't want to believe it when told their blood pressure is elevated because they feel fine. Other people say that it was fine when they checked it last. Your blood pressure is considered high if it is over 140/90 on two separate occasions. If one blood pressure measurement is high, you should have another reading taken to verify the first reading. If both readings are over 140/90 you should see your health care provider.

Hypertension is known as "the silent killer." It really doesn't present with any symptoms. High blood pressure is not a condition you feel as it damages the blood vessels that lead to your eyes, brain, heart and kidneys. Unless you and your doctor monitor your pressure readings, you may have no idea how high it might be. The blood pressure screening here at church is an inexpensive and simple way to keep track of your blood pressure and would alert you when to see your physician.

The following chart may be of some help to you to understand the blood pressure guidelines:

What can untreated high blood pressure lead to?
Untreated high blood pressure can lead to sudden stroke heart attack, eye disease, kidney disease and congestive heart failure. Watchful waiting is not appropriate if you find out that you have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure has been high on two or more separate occasions, let your doctor know. Making an accurate diagnosis and starting treatment is important to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. Ignorance is not bliss. What you don't know can hurt you!

High blood pressure statistics from the American Heart Association:

• High blood pressure killed 46,765 Americans in 2001.
• As many as 50 million Americans age 6 and older have high blood pressure.
• One in five Americans (and one in four adults) has high blood pressure.
• Of those people with high blood pressure, 30% don't know they have it.
• Of all people with high blood pressure, 11% are not on therapy (special diet or drugs), 25% are on inadequate therapy, and 34% are on adequate therapy.
• The cause of 90-95% of the cases of high blood pressure isn't known; however, high blood pressure is easily detected and usually controllable.
• High blood pressure affects more than 40% of African Americans.

When should I call my doctor?
You should call your doctor immediately is you have high blood pressure and:

• It is usually well controlled and it suddenly goes well above the normal range on more than one occasion.
• Your blood pressure is 180/110, you experience a severe or sudden headache, chest pain, numbness or tingling of your face or extremities.
• You should also call your doctor if you develop significant side effects from any medication you take for high blood pressure.

What can I do about it if my blood pressure is high?
Initial treatment for high blood pressure includes lifestyle changes. These include losing weight if you are overweight, exercising, eating a healthy diet that is low in salt and fat, limiting alcohol to no more than two drinks a day and quitting smoking. Medications may need to be prescribed to bring down your blood pressure. It is important to know the name and dose of the medication(s) you are taking and to make sure you are taking it according to the directions. Do not stop taking blood pressure medication because you feel better or that your numbers have come down into an acceptable range. Caffeine can raise your blood pressure as well as cold medications with pseudoephedrine in them. Check with your provider before taking over the counter cold medications. If you decide to take a cold preparation, do not take a twelve-hour or extended release formula, as it will raise your blood pressure for an extended period.

What can you do to manage your blood pressure?

• Have your blood pressure checked so you know what your reading is. It takes more than just one reading to diagnose hypertension. Pay attention to blood pressure readings before it gets too high.
• Maintain or change your lifestyle to one that promotes a healthy life.
• Visit your doctor and discuss your blood pressure.
• Medication may be one of the lifestyle additions you might need to take. Fifty percent of people on medication still have numbers too high.
• American Heart Association is recommending for those whose blood pressure is still high, that a change or an additional blood pressure drug may be needed.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy blood pressure reading is important. The latest guidelines state a normal blood pressure for most adults is less than 120/80. In general, seek treatment if your blood pressure is greater than or equal to 140/90. The only way you will know what your blood pressure reading is to have your blood pressure reading taken. See you at one of our blood pressure screenings held monthly in the Parish Office after mass.

Information taken from the American Heart Association and the website: www.healthybp.com