Health New England | Health Matters | Wellness Guide 2019

6 ∞ Health & Wellness Guide | 2019 Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels. It’s measured in two numbers. The first number mea- sures the force of blood pumping out of the heart and into the blood ves- sels. The second number measures the force of the blood while the heart rests between beats. When your blood pressure is high, it means the force of blood against the blood vessels is excessive and dam- aging. High blood pressure makes the heart and blood vessels work harder. Over time, the force of high blood pressure damages the inner walls of the blood vessels. Plaque forms in the tiny damaged areas—making the blood vessels narrow and less flex- ible. This process is called atheroscle- rosis, and it raises your risk for: • Heart attack • Heart disease • Stroke Know Your Numbers High blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms. The only way to find out if you have it is to have your doctor check your blood pressure at each visit. Talk with your doctor about what your individual blood pressure goal should be. If your blood pressure is consistently high, your doctor might suggest life- style changes and possibly medica- tions to bring it down. Sources: American Heart Association; National Institutes of Health How’s Your Blood Pressure? Lifestyle Changes You Can Make ✔ Switching to a low-salt diet. ✔ Avoiding alcohol. ✔ Getting regular exercise. ✔ Losing weight or keeping a healthy weight. BLOOD PRESSURE