Personal Health Assessment Results - Completed:

BLOOD PRESSURE

You have indicated that your blood pressure is usually in the normal or pre-hypertensive range. Good for you. Because blood pressure can be influenced by factors such as age, stress, weight, pregnancy and other things, it is important to continue monitoring your blood pressure regularly to ensure it stays in a healthy range. High blood pressure can lead to health problems including: heart disease, stroke and kidney disease. It is also a major cause of complications in pregnancy. Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure (your top number). When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure (your bottom number). According to recent estimates, nearly one in three Americans over age 18 has high blood pressure, but because there are no symptoms, nearly one-third of these people don't know they have it. This is why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer.” The only way to tell if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. The following table explains how to understand your blood pressure readings and when and how often to follow up with a healthcare provider for blood pressure.

Systolic (MmHg) Diastolic (MmHg) Risk Category Recommendations if not on medication Recommendations if on medication <120 <80 Normal Recheck in 1 year Recheck at least yearly or as recommended by healthcare provider 120-139 80-89 Pre-hypertension Recheck in 6 months to 1 year 140-159 90-99 Stage 1 hypertension Confirm within 1 month Recheck twice a year or as recommended by healthcare provider 160-179 100-109 Stage 2 hypertension See healthcare provider within 1 month See (or call) healthcare provider unless he/she is aware your readings are this high > 180 > 110 See healthcare provider immediately See (or call) healthcare provider immediately Those at higher risk for high blood pressure include: People with close blood relatives who have high blood pressure African Americans People over age 35 People who are overweight People who are not physically active People who use too much salt People who drink too much alcohol People with diabetes, gout and kidney disease Pregnant women Women who take birth control pills who are overweight, had high blood pressure during pregnancy, have a family history of high blood pressure or have mild kidney disease. Tips to help you control high blood pressure Know what your blood pressure should be and check it regularly. Maintain a healthy weight. Be physically active. Increase aerobic activity. Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day for women and two a day for men. Eat a healthy diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and salt. Take medication as prescribed by your physician. Stop smoking for overall cardiovascular health. Manage stress in your life. For more information on high blood pressure: Gundersen Heart Institute at www.gundersenhealth.org/heart American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at www.nhlbi.nih.gov