Protect Yourself from Scams - SCAN Health Plan

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scan healthcheck High Blood Pressure and Your Health Fact: More than half of all SCAN members have high blood pressure, or hypertension. Do you know your blood pressure levels? You need to, because you’re not likely to experience any symptoms until this condition has caused serious damage. Stroke, heart disease, eye problems, kidney failure. Just a few of the devastating health problems that can be avoided if you keep your blood pressure under control. That’s why it’s critical that you find out what your blood pressure is; understand what it means; then take steps to lower it if necessary. See the chart on Page 5 for an explanation of what the numbers in your blood pressure reading mean. If either the systolic or diastolic number is higher than these guidelines, that’s considered high blood pressure. Check with your doctor, though, to find out your ideal blood pressure numbers—he or she may have different goals depending on your specific situation. In general, however, both prehypertension and hypertension need attention. Prehypertension means your blood pressure could become a problem. That’s your cue to make changes now to what you eat and drink, your activity level, and to lose extra weight. This is even more important if you also have diabetes, because that puts you at greater risk for stroke and other serious health problems. Hypertension means you already have high blood pressure, so it’s time to get it under control. Ask your doctor what your goal should be—it may not be the same for everyone. Have your blood pressure checked often. It’s easy to measure, but your doctor may not check it each time you visit, so ask for it if needed. If you are being treated for high blood pressure, it is especially good to test your blood pressure regularly so you can watch your progress. You can buy a simple, automatic blood pressure machine from most drug stores to use at home. There is a lot you can do to bring your blood pressure under control. Lifestyle changes are sometimes enough. Even if you do need blood pressure medicine, making the changes noted below can make a difference—your doctor may be able to lower the dose. Besides, these changes will improve your overall health. You’ll have more energy in the day, sleep better at night, and just plain feel better. Lose weight if you are overweight. Losing just 5 or 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure. And the steps you take to lose weight—eating well and exercising—will also help control your blood pressure. 4
Boost your activity level. If you’re not currently active, build up to 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week. You can break those 30 minutes up into whatever works best for you: a 10 minute walk before or after each meal is fine. Already active? Add more time and/or increase your intensity. Check with your doctor first—and remember, even if mobility is a challenge, you can still benefit from chair exercises. Cut back on the salt. Read labels so you can avoid foods high in sodium. Many now come in low-sodium versions—but it can still add up if you eat a lot of processed foods (soups, crackers, sauces, etc.). Choose foods with less than 5 percent of the Daily Value of sodium; avoid foods with 20 percent or more Daily Value of sodium. When cooking at home, use sodiumfree seasonings such as pepper, herbs, and spice blends such as Mrs. Dash. Low-sodium doesn’t have to mean bland. Eat an all-around healthy diet. That means more fruits, vegetables, whole-grains and lean proteins like chicken breasts, fish and dried beans. Stop smoking. It’s just not good for any part of your body—especially your heart and lungs. Limit your alcohol intake. No more than 2 drinks per day for men; one for women. Alcohol raises blood pressure and also has a lot of calories. Lower your stress levels. Living with stress can cause increased blood pressure in some people. Exercising and getting enough sleep can help. Consider medications. There are several common types of medicines used to treat blood pressure. Your doctor will decide whether medicine is right, and if so, which type would be best for you. Be sure to take these important prescription drugs as prescribed. Taken the wrong way, they may not work. If you experience any side effects, let your doctor know right away. Never stop taking them on your own. If you are taking blood pressure medication and it brings your blood pressure into normal levels— that’s great! But that does not mean you do not have hypertension. That’s important to remember should another doctor or pharmacist ask if you have high blood pressure. The correct answer in such as case is “Yes, but it is under control with medication.” What do the Numbers Mean? Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. When the doctor measures your blood pressure the results are given in two numbers. The first number, called systolic pressure, measures the pressure when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic pressure, measures the pressure while your heart relaxes between beats. Normal blood pressure is a systolic pressure of less than 120 and a diastolic pressure of less than 80, or 120/80. Systolic (1 st #) Diastolic (2 nd #) Normal Blood Pressure less than 120 less than 80 High Blood Pressure 140 or more 90 or more Prehypertension between 120–139 between 80–89 Isolated Systolic Hypertension 140 or more less than 90 From the National Institutes on Aging Age Page: High Blood Pressure 5
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Protect Yourself from Scams - SCAN Health Plan

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