Oct
7
By Richard Major, RHN, TA, ISSA
Certified Personal Trainer for Seniors
According to the Canadian Hypertension Education Program, “high blood pressure is one of the leading health problems in Canada.” Inactive people are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to have a heart attack, and the chances of dying immediately after a heart attack are three times higher than those who are physically active It is important to know how to read and understand your blood pressure readings so that you can determine your heart health.So let’s start with some facts:
Systole- The pressure within the arteries when the heart contracts (pumps blood). This is the first and larger of the two numbers.
Diastole – The pressure within the arteries when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood to be pumped out.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg)
120/80 is considered a healthy blood pressure reading; however, if the difference between the numbers (ie. 120 – 80 = 40mmHg) is consistently the same, your blood pressure is still considered OK, but there is room for improvement.
Your heart is a little more than a high-powered pump. It forces blood to make a long journey through the arteries to the rest of the body and back again. If there is nothing restricting or blocking the arteries, then the pressure of the blood is normal and healthy (120/80 mmHg). Now let’s say that over time a buildup of plaque begins to form within your arteries. The arteries are now slightly more constricted and your heart has to pump a little harder, meaning that there is less ‘rest’ time for the heart because of the buildup in pressure. This is the beginning of high blood pressure- when ‘120/80’ begins to look more like 160/100. The pressure always remains high and the heart has less time to fill with blood. Some symptoms of high blood pressure can include blood clots, strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, and kidney problems.
In other circumstances, if the heart has less time to rest and no lifestyle changes are made (to be discussed in the next month’s column), it can become weak and you may experience signs of low blood pressure — a heart that can no longer pump with the same strength and efficiency as before. This is when ‘120/80’ becomes 90/45, for example. Dizziness when standing, brain fog/poor concentration, fatigue, depression, thirst, blood pooling in the lower extremities are some possible symptoms of low blood pressure.
It is important to talk with your doctor if you have high or low blood pressure, but remember: A change in eating habits and a brisk 20 to 30 minute walk several times a week will cut the risk of a heart attack in half by strengthening your very important heart muscle so that it can return blood pressure to stable and healthy levels.