It’s the force that pushes your blood against the walls of your vital arteries. This force is highest when your heart pumps blood throughout the body (systolic pressure). It slightly falls as the heart rests between beats (diastolic pressure). These two important numbers make up your blood pressure reading.
- A normal blood pressure reading is 119/79 or lower as systolic to diastolic pressure.
- High blood pressure starts at 140/90.
- Everything in between, 120-139 for systolic and 80-89 for diastolic pressure, is considered prehypertension.
With no symptoms to warn a person, high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, or kidney failure. A large new study done at Vanderbilt University found that about one quarter of adults do not even know they have high blood pressure. The study, published in the journal Circulation: Cardiovascular and Quality Outcomes, also found that most study subjects did not have their high blood pressure under control.
What about “borderline” high blood pressure?
Should a person above the ideal pressure but below the level considered “high” be worried? A recent study published in the American Heart Journal found that a person with prehypertension is also at high risk of death from stroke and heart disease.
The leader of the study, Dr. Dingli Xu, emphasizes the point that even though a blood pressure reading between 120-139/80-89 is not in the “high” zone, it also is not “normal”. Someone in this middle range is still at risk for cardiovascular problems. In fact, this review found that a prehypertension reading is associated with a 28% greater risk of death from heart disease and 41% greater risk of death from stroke compared to people with normal blood pressure.
Regular health screenings, an efficient and regular exercise program, as well as avoiding smoking can all help prevent high blood pressure. It is crucial to keep your body weight in the proper range. EnergyFirst’s protein shakes are designed to help fuel your heart-protective workout regimen. It will also help you reach and maintain a healthy weight, which contributes to a healthier blood pressure reading.
EnergyFirst’s Cholesterol & Heart Formula can also help you lower blood pressure naturally by helping you keep your blood cholesterol levels at a normal level.
If your blood pressure is higher than normal, don’t wait until it’s too late. Try to eliminate any factors that may be contributing to high blood pressure. In the spirit of American Heart Month this February, let your friends and family know about the risks associated with borderline high blood pressure. Even though heart disease is on a rampage in our nation, it is still preventable and controllable.
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