Excerpted and adapted from "What's New with Your Blood Pressure?", Stroke Connection Magazine January/February 2005 (Science updated July 2008)
High blood pressure is the leading modifiable risk factor in ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. And in more than three-fourths of first strokes, patients have blood pressure higher than 140/90.Recently, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) revised its blood pressure guidelines. The new guidelines say blood pressure numbers between 120-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic indicate “prehypertension.” This revision means that 100 million Americans whose blood pressure had been considered normal now have cause to watch their pressure more closely.
The new guidelines say that prehypertension is best treated with:
- Exercise
- Weight loss
- Restriction to no more than 1,500 mg sodium per day
- A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products and reduced saturated fat and total fat
- Moderate use of alcohol (no more than two drinks a day for men or one drink a day for women. A drink is one 12 oz. beer, 4 oz. of wine, 1.5 oz. of 80-proof spirits, or 1 oz. of 100-proof spirits.)
Several things may affect blood pressure, including:
- Retaining too much fluid in the body can increase pressure in blood vessels.
- Retaining fluid can be caused by several factors, including a high-salt diet.
- Limiting salt intake is important to treating high blood pressure.
- Diuretic medications can also help reduce extra fluid.
Constriction of blood vessels also increases blood pressure. Substances called “vasopressors” cause blood vessels to constrict (squeeze and narrow the path for blood flow). This makes blood move through them at higher pressure.
Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about high blood pressure at our HBP website.