The Inside Story on Blood Pressure - International Association of ...

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Inside</strong> <strong>Story</strong>
on Blood Pressure
What you don't
know may hurt you.
<strong>The</strong> integrated
system of the
heart and blood
vessels is
known as the
cardiovascular
system.
Underwritten by Novartis
© 2005 ANATOMICAL TRAVELOGUE INC.

Why should I care?
DID YOU KNOW?
Blood pressure is NOT just
a number.
• Your heart will beat about 100,000 times today
• Every heartbeat pumps blood through your body’s blood vessels.
This moves blood throughout your body, bringing a needed supply
of oxygen and nutrients
• <strong>The</strong> sound of each heartbeat is really the noise your heart
valves make as they close
• Even though you can’t feel it, high blood pressure may cause
damage to your arteries
Do you know why your doctor checks your blood
pressure? It is checked because it is one of the vital
signs that indicates how well your body systems
are working. By asking what your blood pressure
reading is every time it is taken, you’ll know what’s
up with your blood pressure and know if you need
to make changes to manage it.
Blood pressure is created by the force of blood pushing
against the walls of the arteries as it circulates and
the force of the arteries as they resist the blood
flow. High blood pressure is dangerous because it
forces your heart to work harder than normal and
causes damage to blood vessels. If left untreated,
high blood pressure can lead to serious health
problems like heart attack, heart failure, kidney
damage, vision problems, and stroke. That’s
why it’s important to manage your high blood
pressure. This guide will explain why you need to
know your blood pressure numbers, and what you
can do to get your high blood pressure to goal.
Healthy Kidney
<strong>The</strong> top half of the image
shows the inside of the
kidney. <strong>The</strong> bottom half
shows the outside.
Underwritten by Novartis
© 2005 ANATOMICAL TRAVELOGUE INC.
KIDNEY DAMAGED
BY HIGH BLOOD
PRESSURE
High blood
pressure has
damaged the
kidney causing
scar tissue to
develop.
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Why should I care?
Take your blood pressure
seriously.
Blood pressure varies during the day, based on
your activities and stress. If your blood pressure
consistently stays above a certain level, you may be
diagnosed with high blood pressure by your doctor.
If your doctor tells you that you have high blood
pressure, it’s important to your health to follow your
treatment plan.
DID YOU KNOW?
• Most people with high blood pressure do not have any symptoms
• Feeling fine does not mean you do not have high blood pressure
Healthy retina
Many tiny blood vessels
supply the retina.
High blood pressure does not go away
on its own.
Many people need a combination of lifestyle
changes and taking a prescription medicine to bring
their blood pressure under control. By managing
your blood pressure, you can limit the extra work
your heart needs to do to move blood throughout
your body.
It may sound a little scary but instead of worrying,
take action.
damaged retina
High blood pressure can damage your eyes. <strong>The</strong> red spots show
blood that has leaked into the retina from blood vessels.
Underwritten by Novartis
© 2005 ANATOMICAL TRAVELOGUE INC.
4 5

What does it mean?
Cardiovascular made simple.
<strong>The</strong> term cardiovascular system is not as
complicated as it sounds.
It is the medical term for your heart (cardio) and
blood vessels (vascular). This system is made up
of your heart and blood vessels, including arteries,
veins, and capillaries. Its job is to transport oxygenand
nutrient-rich blood from your heart to every
part of your body and remove waste that your body
does not need, such as carbon dioxide.
the heart
<strong>The</strong> heart works as a pump to move
blood through the body.
What’s going on?
Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of the body in
vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is created by the
force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as
it circulates and the force of the arteries as they resist the
blood flow.
DID YOU KNOW?
• A half hour of moderate
intensity activity 5 times
a week—such as jogging,
dancing, and team sports—
can have health benefits*
* Always talk to your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
Underwritten by Novartis
© 2005 ANATOMICAL TRAVELOGUE INC.
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What does it mean?
Blood pressure is made up of 2 important
numbers.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of
mercury (mmHg), a special unit that measures
pressure. It is recorded as 2 numbers usually
written 1 above the other.
• <strong>The</strong> top number is the systolic blood pressure.
It is the highest pressure measured in the arteries,
when the heart beats. A reading of less than
120 mmHg is considered normal for most adults
• <strong>The</strong> bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure.
It measures the pressure in the blood vessels
between heart beats when the heart rests.
A reading of less than 80 mmHg is considered
normal for most adults
Know your numbers.
Normal blood pressure for most adults is where the upper
(systolic) number is less than 120 mmHg and the lower
(diastolic) number is less than 80 mmHg. This is written
as less than 120/80 mmHg.
High blood pressure is where the systolic is consistently
140 mmHg or higher, OR the diastolic is consistently
90 mmHg or higher. This is written as greater than or equal
to 140/90 mmHg. Depending on the health conditions you
have, your doctor may tell you that you have high blood
pressure when your numbers are less than 140/90 mmHg.
Ask your doctor what numbers are best for you.
<strong>The</strong> harder it is for your blood to flow through the blood
vessels, the higher these numbers will be.
Don’t delay. Start getting your high blood pressure to
goal today.
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What does it mean?
What can I do?
What you don’t feel can hurt you.
It may seem hard to pay attention to something
that is not bothering you, not causing you pain, or
that you do not feel at all. It is important to know
that not treating your high blood pressure increases
your risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke, kidney
damage, or visual problems.
Get to your blood pressure goal.
Getting your blood pressure to goal is important to
your health. Ask your doctor what specific goal is
right for you. If you are not at goal, ask if it is time
to change your medication and lifestyle habits.
Healthy heart
<strong>The</strong> ventricles are powerful
chambers that pump blood
from the heart to the body.
enlarged heart
Due to high blood pressure,
this ventricle wall is thicker
and less flexible.
Underwritten by Novartis
Having high blood pressure is a signal for you
and your doctor to take action to lower your
blood pressure to a goal that is right for you.
© 2005 ANATOMICAL TRAVELOGUE INC.
10 11

What can I do?
You can manage high blood
pressure.
You can help get your blood pressure under control
by taking your medication as directed, paying
attention to your numbers, and starting to make
some of these lifestyle changes.
• If you drink alcohol, limit how much alcohol you
drink to 1-2 drinks a day
• Reduce salt in your diet—too much sodium can
cause the body to retain fluid, which can increase
your blood pressure*
• Eat a low-fat, balanced diet, including fresh fruits
and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains*
• Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on
most, if not all, days of the week*
* Always talk to your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program.
Talk to your doctor today and get to your blood
pressure goal.
It’s all up to you.
Take steps to control your blood pressure.
Take your medication as directed.
It may take a little time for your doctor to find what combination
of medication, along with lifestyle changes, can get you to goal.
Give the medicine the best chance to work for you by taking it
as prescribed.
• Take medication at a regularly scheduled time each day
as directed by your doctor. Keep them in a visible spot to
remind you to take them, but out of reach of children
• Make sure you know the name of each medicine, what it
does, how often to take it, and the best time of day to take it
• Ask your doctor if there are any side effects that you might
feel from the medication and what you should do if you
experience any
• Ask for easy-to-open bottles if there are no small children
in your household and you have difficulty opening child-proof
bottles
• Don't give up! Once you reach your goal you will still need
to take your medicine as directed to manage your high blood
pressure
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What can I do?
What should I ask?
Straight talk on medication.
Even with lifestyle changes and exercise, this may
not be good enough to get your blood pressure
to goal. In fact, most people need 2 or more
medications to reach their blood pressure goals.
<strong>The</strong>re are several types of drugs used to treat high
blood pressure. Your doctor may have you try one
or a combination of blood pressure medicines to
help get you to goal.
And once you reach your goal, you will still need to take
medication as directed by your doctor to manage
your high blood pressure.
Ask your doctor if medication is right for you.
Speak up.
Here are some ways to improve your medical
communication skills.
Ask your doctor to clearly explain about your
high blood pressure. If the explanation doesn't
make sense, ask him or her to clarify; maybe citing
an example or drawing a picture will help.
Request clear details about the treatment your doctor
recommends. Ask for simple explanations for each
test, medication, or procedure your doctor suggests.
If you don’t agree with the treatment plan your
doctor is recommending, explain why. For example,
you may not feel you can make the changes or
afford the medications. Your doctor can discuss
options with you, so say what’s on your mind.
Don’t forget:
Ask what your blood pressure
numbers are every time you have
your blood pressure checked.
If you are not at goal, ask your
doctor if it is time to change your
medication and lifestyle habits.
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What should I ask?
Keeping track.
Don’t forget:
Ask your doctor or pharmacist about any medicine prescribed for you.
• Make sure you know the name of the medicine, why it is right for
you, what it does, how often to take it, and how to take it
• Ask about side effects you might experience and when you should
notify your doctor
• Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including
medicines you buy without a prescription, such as herbal medicines
or vitamins
Keep a record of what happened at your doctor visit by
writing down the answers to these questions.
1. What are my current blood pressure numbers?
If you need help with a step-by-step plan to lose
weight or increase your activity, ask for it. <strong>The</strong>re are
many low-cost local programs and resources you
can try.
If you find you forget the instructions your
doctor gave you about taking your medication or
making lifestyle changes, ask him or her to write
them down. Ask for patient education materials.
If you are having side effects, call your doctor.
DO NOT wait for your next visit or just stop taking
the medication.
If you want to learn more about your health,
ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse for more
information.
Please tear off and keep for your records.
2. What is my blood pressure goal?
3. What are the names of my blood pressure medications
and how do I take them?
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Glossary:
4. If I’m not at my blood pressure goal, would changing
my dosage, changing medications, or adding a new
medication help?
5. What lifestyle changes do I need to make to get to goal
and stay there?
6. Do I need to lose weight? If so, what would be a reasonable
weight goal?
7. What kind of physical activity do you recommend for me?
8. Should I use a blood pressure monitor at home? How often
should I check my blood pressure?
9. When should I schedule a follow-up visit?
Please tear off and keep for your records.
Artery—A blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood away
from the heart to the cells, tissues, and organs of the body.
Blood Pressure—Blood pressure is created by the force of
blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as it circulates
and the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow.
Blood Vessels—Arteries, veins, and capillaries that carry
blood throughout the body.
Cardiovascular System—<strong>The</strong> medical term for the heart and
blood vessels that circulate blood through the body.
Diastolic—<strong>The</strong> pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes
between heart beats. This is the bottom number of a blood
pressure reading.
High Blood Pressure—A blood pressure reading where
the upper or systolic number is consistently 140 or higher,
or the lower or diastolic number is consistently 90 or higher,
or as your doctor tells you.
Hypertension—<strong>The</strong> medical term for high blood pressure.
Retina—<strong>The</strong> area at the back of the eye that detects light.
Systolic—<strong>The</strong> highest pressure measured in the arteries when
the heart contracts with each beat. This is the top number of a
blood pressure reading.
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<strong>The</strong> International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) is
partnering with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, a
leader in the development of high blood pressure products,
to help members of their communities understand the
risks of high blood pressure and how to best manage it.
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
East Hanover, New Jersey 07936
© 2008 Novartis Printed in USA 10/08 CUS-900814 Printed on Recycled Paper