Know Your Numbers
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common condition. It happens when the blood vessel walls are under too much pressure from the blood as it circulates throughout the body. When high blood pressure is left untreated, it can increase the risk of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and kidney disease.
Two measures make up your blood pressure reading: systolic and diastolic blood pressure. When you get your blood pressure measured, systolic blood pressure is the number displayed on top and represents the blood pressure on the artery walls when the heartbeats. Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number and represents the pressure on the artery walls between beats.
Normal systolic blood pressure is less than130. Normal diastolic blood pressure is less than 80.
There are often no symptoms of hypertension. However, some people can experience nosebleeds, headaches, vision changes, irregular heartbeat and pounding in the neck and ears. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to get it checked, and you can accomplish this in multiple ways. First, you can go to your doctor’s office or pharmacy and they will check your blood pressure for you. You can also use your over-the-counter (OTC) dollars to purchase a digital blood pressure monitor.* If you check your blood pressure at home, be sure to report it to your doctor.
If you have hypertension, your doctor may prescribe medication to help control it. There are lifestyle changes that can help:
- Get at least 30 minutes of aerobic exercise most days — going on a walk, using a stationary bike or swimming are great low-impact options
- Eat a healthy diet — focus on whole grains, fruits and vegetables and limit salt, sugar and saturated fats
- Get eight hours of sleep each night
- Practice mindfulness or other stress management techniques
- Avoid alcohol
- Quit smoking
*If you incur charges above your quarterly allowance, they need to be paid in-person at a participating CVS
