BLOOD PRESSURE CONTROL
WHAT IS BLOOD PRESSURE?
Your heart pumps blood through blood vessels to your body. The force of blood pushing against your blood vessels is called BLOOD PRESSURE.
BLOOD PRESSURE is measured twice, once when your heart squeezes, this is called the systolic blood pressure, and again when your heart relaxes, this is called the diastolic blood pressure. Blood pressure is reported as the systolic blood pressure over the diastolic blood pressure and can be low, normal or high.
HOW DOES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE HURT ME?
High blood pressure causes silent damage to the body over time, including changes in eyesight, kidney failure, stroke and heart attacks. Most people do not feel the effects of high blood pressure until it is too late. Even though you may not feel high blood pressure, the damage can continue to happen.
HOW CAN I PREVENT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE?
WHAT CAN MY DOCTOR DO FOR ME?
Together we can better your life by working to control weight, eat healthy, exercise regularly and stop smoking. Along with these lifestyle changes there are very safe and effective medications that can help control blood pressure.
There have been recent changes to how your doctor may manage your blood pressure.
Speak to your doctor about the updated recommendations and whether they apply to you.
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