WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?Elevated blood pressure (force of the blood
against your artery walls is high)Most prevalent cardiovascular
disease Asymptomatic silently damages the heart and arteries
IF UNTREATED, HYPERTENSION CAN LEAD TODamaged heart and coronary
arteries, including heart attack, heart disease, congestive heart
failureStrokeKidney damageVision lossAnginaPeripheral artery
disease
If you eat too much salt, blood pressure will increaseIncreased
salt from dietSalt pulls extra water into blood vesselBlood
pressure increase due to increased internal vessel pressure
WHAT IS HYPERTENSION?Blood pressure is determined by the amount
of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood
flow in your arteries.
BLOOD PRESSURE READINGSystolic: higher number; measures the
pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart
muscle contracts).Diastolic: bottom number; measures the pressure
in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is
resting between beats and refilling with blood).
12078
BLOOD PRESSURE READING12078
Blood Pressure (BP)ClassificationSystolic BP mm HgDiastolic BP
mm HgNormalless than 120Andless than 80Prehypertension120 to
139Or80 to 89Stage 1 Hypertension140 to 159Or90 to 99Stage 2
Hypertension160 or higher or100 or higher
RISK FACTORSAgeRaceFamily historyBeing overweight or obeseNot
being physically activeUsing tobaccoToo much salt (sodium) in your
dietalcohol
PREVENTION AND TREATMENTLifestyle modificationsImproving dietary
qualityLess sodium in dietMore fruits and vegetablesPhysical
activityAt least 30 minutes of exercise a day Limit alcohol intake
Limit smoking
SODIUMCurrent Recommendations:
For healthy adults (18 -50) to consume 2300 milligrams or less
dailyAdults ages 51 and older, or those who are pre-hypertensive or
hypertensive, to consume 1500 milligrams or less daily
TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR SALT INTAKEUse herbs and spices to season
your food.Read the nutrition facts label choose foods lower in
sodium.Look for: reduced sodium OR low sodium Rinse canned foods
such as beansAdd water to canned soup to dilute it
USE HERBS AND SPICES TO SEASON YOUR FOODInstead of using
salt:BasilOnionGarlicThymeChili powder
Sodium does not only come from table salt. A lot of other foods
may be high in sodium as well*5% or less is low20% or more is
high
