So why in the world is my doctor so concerned about my blood pressure? The reason is actually quite simple. It reflects how elastic the arteries in your body are, and therefore tells your doctor if you are at risk for heart disease and strokes. And as you probably know, heart disease is the number one killer in America. The problem with high blood pressure, or hypertension, is that you can have it for many years with no symptoms. Therefore, in the medical profession, we call it the silent killer. Of course, your doctor’s office will check your blood pressure.  Blood pressure machines are fairly inexpensive, so I always recommend that people check those numbers at home, as well, if they have been diagnosed with high blood pressure.

                You might be asking, what numbers show a normal blood pressure and what numbers show a high blood pressure? Your doctor will be very happy if the top number is less than 120 and the bottom number is less than 80. The higher those numbers go, the more chance you have of your arteries being affected. If your top number is higher than 180 or the lower number is higher than 120, that is considered a true emergency and you need to have medical attention right away. You would be at high risk of having a stroke.

                I am always surprised at how many young adults have high blood pressure.  So just because you are young, does not necessarily mean you have a normal blood pressure. There are apps out there that make it very easy to track your numbers.

                So what are the risk factors for developing high blood pressure? If you eat a diet high in sodium (salt) it could eventually lead to high blood pressure. It is one of the first things we tell a patient when we are educating them on this topic. The ideal, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), is to consume less than 2300 mg of sodium a day. Wow! 2300 milligrams is a lot, correct? Actually, the answer is no. One teaspoon of salt contains 2325mg of sodium. What foods are high in salt? Canned vegetables, fast foods, ham, cured meats, frozen dinners, salted nuts, etc. If this is difficult for you, claim God’s promise in 1 Corinthians 10:13. This verse tells us that “no temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.” But God will help us with our temptations, whatever they may be. The AHA says we should eat a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables (there is almost no salt in fresh fruits and fresh vegetables) and our diet should be low in fat and high in fiber and whole grains.

      Most of us know that exercise helps us in many ways; including the fact that it can help bring our blood pressure into a normal range. The AHA recommends we move (walking, biking, swimming, etc) 150 minutes a week. This is usually broken down to 30 minutes 5 days a week for most people. This will also help us lose weight, if that is needed. Having a BMI of 25 or less is the target. Some people exercise with a friend, who can help keep them accountable.

      The AHA used to recommend no alcohol intake. They now say one drink a day is ok, but the best scenario, in my opinion, is to stay away altogether. This is especially true if you are not able to stop at one drink a day. Proverbs 20:1 says that wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. I have personally seen many lives destroyed by alcohol, and it makes me very, very sad.

                There are some people whose blood pressure goes up significantly just from visiting their doctor. That is because stress can cause your blood pressure to rise. Therefore, managing stress can help you lower your pressure. God wants us to have peace in our hearts. John 16:33 says that in Jesus we can have peace. And in this hectic world that is truly a wonderful promise!

                If you have already been diagnosed with hypertension, it is important to see your doctor on a regular basis so he can monitor your blood pressure and order medication, if needed. I have known many people who have lowered their blood pressure just by following the above recommendations. However, please never stop your medication without talking to your doctor.

            We all want to be healthy, correct? And this puts some of that responsibility back into our own hands, which, in my opinion, is a definite plus. So here is to your health and happiness in the future. May God richly bless you as you continue on this journey.  If we can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.