Men's Health Week--high blood pressure

Doctors talk about high blood pressure (called hypertension) when your blood pressure numbers are higher than 120/80.  The 120 is the systolic pressure and this number reflects the pressure inside your blood vessels when you heart pumps blood out to the body.  The 80 is called diastolic blood pressure.  It shows the pressure inside your blood vessels when your heart is resting.  When a person has high blood pressure, his heart must work harder to pump blood to all parts of the body.  Many people have high blood pressure and may not feel any symptoms.  High blood pressure can quietly harm the body organs such as the heart, kidneys, and brain. 

A person’s blood pressure can be checked easily by a manual or battery powered blood pressure cuff machine.  Once a person knows he has high blood pressure, he should work with his doctor to treat it.  Sometimes losing weight and exercising can bring the blood pressure down within normal limits.  Many prescription blood pressure medicines are available for treating high blood pressure.  A person should never stop taking his prescribed blood pressure medicine without his doctor’s approval.  More information about 5 important health risks for men can be found at  http://www.driveforfive.com/health-risks.aspx