Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
Blood pressure measurements contain two numbers, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg):
120
Systolic (Top Number)
Pressure when heart contracts
80
Diastolic (Bottom Number)
Pressure when heart relaxes
Blood Pressure Categories
Normal< 120/80 mmHg
Elevated120-129 / <80 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 1130-139 / 80-89 mmHg
Hypertension Stage 2≥ 140 / ≥ 90 mmHg
Hypertensive Crisis> 180 / > 120 mmHg
Dangers of High Blood Pressure
❤️
Heart Disease
Heart muscle thickening, heart failure, coronary artery disease
🧠
Stroke
Brain hemorrhage, cerebral infarction
👁️
Vision Damage
Retinopathy, vision loss
🫘
Kidney Disease
Glomerulosclerosis, kidney failure
🦵
Peripheral Artery Disease
Lower limb arteriosclerosis, intermittent claudication
🧠
Cognitive Impairment
Vascular dementia, memory decline
🥗 DASH Diet
DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) is a diet plan specifically designed to control blood pressure, proven to effectively lower BP.
✅ Eat More
- • Vegetables, fruits
- • Whole grains
- • Low-fat dairy
- • Lean meat, fish
- • Nuts, legumes
❌ Eat Less
- • High-sodium foods
- • Processed foods
- • Sugary drinks
- • Red meat
- • Saturated fats
Comprehensive Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
Blood pressure is just one risk factor. Use the ASCVD calculator for a complete assessment
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