Most people are well aware of their numbers on the bathroom scale, even if they wish they weren’t. Yet, how many people monitor their blood pressure on a regular basis unless they already know it’s too high? Even if your blood pressure is low, it’s important to know your numbers and understand how they relate to your overall health.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a serious condition that increases your risk of stroke, heart attack and kidney disease. It is known as a “silent killer” because many times there are no symptoms until organ damage develops. This is why doctors suggest you have your blood pressure checked once every two years even if you fall in the normal range, and more often if you have high blood pressure.

In the United States, 30 percent of people are unaware that they have high blood pressure. What’s more, 50 percent of patients on blood pressure lowering medication are not at their recommended treatment goal.

What you should know

These are the four categories of blood pressure

*Normal……………….. Below 120/80

Prehypertension……….. 120-139/80-89

Stage 1 Hypertension….. 140-159/90-99

Stage 2 Hypertension….. 160 or more/100 or more

*Talk to your physician if your readings are significantly low.

These numbers measure systolic and diastolic blood pressure, The upper or systolic number refers to the peak pressure while the heart is pumping blood into the body. The lower or diastolic number is the pressure of your heart at rest, between beats. The higher your blood pressure, the harder your heart has to work.

What you can do

If your blood pressure is normal, you will want to keep it that way by maintaining or adopting a healthy lifestyle. It is always advisable, regardless of your blood pressure, to maintain a healthy weight and get regular exercise.

If your blood pressure is high (stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension), your doctor will always suggest changes to your diet and encourage you to establish an exercise routine. He or she may also prescribe medications, such as antihypertensive drugs to decrease high blood pressure. These medications include diuretics (or “water pills”), beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers and other medications with cardiovascular protective effects. Most patients with hypertension will require at least two or more medications to achieve target blood pressure.

If your blood pressure is just above normal (prehypertension), and rising, it has to be watched very carefully. Your doctor will certainly advise that you make healthy lifestyle changes to lower your blood pressure. He or she may also recommend that you take medication, particularly if you have a pre-existing condition, such as heart or kidney disease.

Prehypertension is serious

Recently, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute issued new guidelines to help prevent and manage hypertension. It includes recommendations for people who do not yet have high blood pressure but whose numbers are getting progressively higher. This new category was created to stop or delay hypertension.

The risk of cardiovascular disease begins at a blood pressure of 120/80 and doubles with each increment of 20/10. Even patients with normal blood pressure at age 55 have a 90 percent lifetime risk of developing high blood pressure. To learn more about reducing your own risk, talk to your doctor.