High Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is measured as two values:

• Systolic: The pressure of blood in your blood vessels with each beat of your heart
• Diastolic: The pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. A normal blood pressure is roughly 120/80 (systolic/diastolic).

Symptoms:

High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Regular check-ups are important because you may feel fine while you are at risk of a stroke or heart attack. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Throbbing headaches
• Blurred vision
• Vomiting and/or nausea
• Ringing in the ears
• Swollen feet

Treatment:

For mild-high blood pressure, significant lowering can be achieved through regular exercise, healthy eating, and smoking cessation. Moderate to extreme high blood pressure requires chemical intervention through medications.

These medicines do not cure high blood pressure; they control it. Do not stop your medications without consulting your physician.

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