Do I Have High Blood Pressure?

Health knowledge is always changing, so yesterday you did not have high blood pressure (HBP) but when you visit the Doc tomorrow you will be diagnosed with HBP. It is estimated that 14% more Americans will have the HBP label but only 1.9% will need medication.   The prevailing thought on lowering the ‘numbers’ and changing the terms is based on fact that only 50% of those diagnosed with previous numbers – 140/90 ever reached that value. Furthermore the term ‘pre-hypertenson’ is now simply ‘elevated blood pressure’. It is defined as a blood pressure of 120-129/80 or less.

Term              Value

Stage I           130-139/80-89

 Stage II         140-159/90-99

More than the absolute ‘number’ go into the the label HBP. Your lipid profile, your weight, age, family history, post-menopausal to name a few. If you do not want to be one of the 31 million Americans that need to meet new goal get proactive. Lifestyle is mainstay, loose weight exercise (30 min. 3x/wk.), decrease salt and fat in your diet.