Hypertension

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure (2).

High blood pressure can damage your health and seriously hurts important organs like the heart, brain, kidneys and eyes (2).

Poorly controlled hypertension puts you at increased risk for cardiac disease (congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, angina, left ventricular hypertrophy, and arrhythmias), cerebrovascular disease (stroke and cognitive decline), renal disease (chronic renal failure and dialysis), and vascular disease (accelerated atherosclerosis and retinopathy) (4)

It is important to detect hypertension as early as possible so the respective treatment can begin. If you have concerns about your risk or blood pressure numbers, talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.

Know what causes high blood pressure? (2,3)

• genetics
• older age – high blood pressure usually develops over time
• certain health conditions such as diabetes and having obesity
• unhealthy lifestyle – not enough physical activity, high-salt diet, drinking too much alcohol, etc.

How to keep your blood pressure at a healthy range? (6)

Some factors are uncontrollable, such as age, family history, race or ethnicity. But you can take steps to lower the risks you can control:

• Eat and drink healthy: The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan has proven record of helping people lower their blood pressure.
  • Choose foods that are low in sodium — an element in table salt often present in processed and restaurant foods — and rich in potassium — a mineral that your body needs to work properly. Potassium is found in many foods; bananas, potatoes, beans, and yogurt have high levels of potassium.
  • Determine whether your weight is in a healthy range, doctors often calculate your body mass index (BMI).
  • Limit alcohol consumption.
• Be physically active:
  • Take the stairs instead of the lift.
  • Walk or use a bicycle even for short distances.
  • Incorporate physical activity into a daily routine.
• Quit or never start smoking. All types of smoking and passive smoking increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
• Get enough sleep

Measure your blood pressure regularly to detect any health problems early.

You can get your blood pressure checked (5):

• By a healthcare professional at a doctor’s office.
• At a pharmacy that has a digital blood pressure measurement machine.
• With a home blood pressure monitor that you can use yourself.

However, be aware that many things can affect a blood pressure reading, including nervousness, what you ate, drank or did before your reading, and even how you are sitting. It is therefore important to get an accurate blood pressure reading so that you have a clearer picture of your risk.

Acino has prepared a printable leaflet for you, which will help you:

• Learn the correct way to measure blood pressure
• Prepare you first blood pressure visit
• Keep track of your blood pressure checks at home

Download Acino Leaflet – Manage Blood Pressure

Take your medicine (6). 

Talk with your doctor or healthcare professional about the best type of treatment for you. You may need to take more than one type of medicine to control your blood pressure. Blood pressure medicines can work several different ways. Blood pressure medicines can keep blood pressure at a healthy level by:

• Causing your body to get rid of water, which decreases the amount of water and salt in your body to a healthy level
• Relaxing your blood vessels
• Making your heartbeat with less force
• Blocking nerve activity that can restrict your blood vessels

If you take medicine to treat high blood pressure or other health conditions, follow your doctor’s or healthcare professional’s instructions carefully.

One of the global targets for non-communicable diseases is to reduce the prevalence of hypertension by 33% between 2010 and 2030 (3).

Download our educational poster*, and spread the word:

• Learn the right way to measure blood pressure

Join us on Facebook and let’s talk hypertension disease, especially during the World Hypertension Day on 17 May every year.