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Healthy Women & Blood Pressure


  Healthy Women
  Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood in the arteries as the heart pumps blood around the body.  Your blood pressure is always changing. When you are resting it is usually lower. It is often higher during exercise and when you are angry or excited.  Maintaining blood pressure at the right level will prevent serious problems like heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Blood pressure is measured with a Blood Pressure Monitor. Your blood pressure result will have two numbers (eg 120/90). The top number is the pressure when the heart actually beats and is called the systolic pressure. The lower number is the pressure when the heart rests between beats and is called the diastolic pressure. It may take several tests before deciding if your blood pressure is low, normal or high.

Blood pressure is normally lower in children and in women during pregnancy. Low blood pressure is generally not a problem. However, it sometimes can be a symptom of a medical problem. 

The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. It increases your risk of heart disease, stroke and other heart problems.

Here is a guide to blood pressure levels in adults:

     Healthy Women - Blood Pressure levels
 

Signs & Symptoms

High blood pressure rarely gives you any warning signs. The only way to know what your blood pressure is to have it checked every two years, or more often if your general practitioner advises you to.

Causes

The causes of high blood pressure are often unknown, however, generally genetic ... if your parents had high blood pressure have yours checked. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, being overweight, your diet, alcohol and lack of exercise can increase your risk of high blood pressure.

Treatment

What can I do to control my blood pressure?

  • Eat less fat and salt
  • Eat plenty of cereals, fruit, fish, and vegetables
  • Eat less red meat
  • Stay a healthy weight
  • Exercise for 30 minutes on most or every day of the week
  • Limit alcohol to two glasses a day or less
  • If you are given tablets to control blood pressure, take them as prescribed
  • Stop smoking
  • Have your blood pressure monitored every two years or as directed. Your Pharmacist can recommend an appropriate monitoring device
  • Relax

Medication

Medicines can control, but do not cure, high blood pressure. Take your blood pressure medication regularly as directed. If you're not sure, ask Your Pharmacist

  • Diuretics - (water pills, eg, Lasix, Aldactone) - increase the kidney's secretion of salt and water, decreasing volume of fluid in the bloodstream and the pressure on arteries
  • Beta Blockers - (eg. Tenormin, Noton, Betaloc) - decrease vigor of the heart's contractions, thereby decreasing the force used to pump blood into arteries. They are also used in patients with congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease - potential side effect - lowers heart rate excessively
  • Calcium Channel Blockers - eg.Cardizem, Isopti, lover blood pressure by decreasing vigor of the heart's contractions while also dilating arteries decreasing resistance to blood flow. New Ca Channel Blockers, eg. Norvasc, Plendil primarily dilate the arteries and have little effect of forcefulness of the heart's contractions. Many of the channel blockers can cause headache and oedema (swelling) in ankles and feet
  • Ace Inhibitors - eg. Zestril, Monopril - decrease resistance to blood flow and have other beneficial effects to congestive heart failure. Approximately 10% of patients develop a non-productive cough
  • ARBs - new class similar to Ace Inhibitors, eg, Atacand, Avapro - do not commonly produce significant side effects

Further Information: 

The Heart Foundation of Australia - 1300 362 787 or
www.heartfoundation.com.au

High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia (HBPRCA)
www.hbprca.com.au

 

Ask Your Pharmacist about:

  • Drugs & medications that may interact with blood pressure medication
  • Blood pressure monitors that can be used at home
  • Help to quit smoking
  • Weight loss
  • Dietary supplements

 

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