High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is estimated to affect nearly 50 million Americans and 1 billion people worldwide. Its prevalence is expected to increase unless preventive measures are adopted as populations age. Education about what constitutes normal blood pressure readings can help patients detect and monitor hypertension.
Types
Blood pressure is expressed as two numbers--a systolic number, or the "top" reading, and a diastolic number, the "bottom" reading. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. Hypertension, meanwhile, falls into three broad categories. In Type I, the blood pressure readings fall within a range of 140/90 to 159/99. In Type II hypertension, the blood pressure is 160/100 or higher. The third classification, called pre-hypertension, is defined as 120/80 to 139/89.
Significance
Keeping blood pressure under control is important because of the correlation between high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. High blood pressure is associated with a greater chance of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
Treatment
Elevated blood pressure often is attributed to lifestyle factors that patients can change. Weight loss, decreased sodium intake, regular physical activity and decreased alcohol consumption, combined with anti-hypertensive medication, can bring high blood pressure under control or prevent it altogether.
Benefits
When a patient with high blood pressure brings his hypertension under control, his likelihood of experiencing a stroke decreases by 30 to 40 percent, according to a report in the December 2003 issue of the journal "Hypertension." The report notes that the risk of heart attack drops 20 to 25 percent and the risk of heart failure falls by more than 50 percent.
Considerations
Those who are being treated for hypertension should remain diligent in monitoring and maintaining the treatment plan. Patients with severe hypertension are advised to visit their health care providers more often than they would otherwise, as often as every three to six months.
