If you are overweight, losing even 5% to 10% of your weight can help to reduce your blood pressure as well as decrease your chances of having a stroke or heart attack.
Follow these links to more information about medications for hypertension and heart disease or hypertension and stroke. If your doctor has prescribed medication for hypertension, take it as directed.Have your blood pressure checked regularly as recommended by your healthcare provider.Throughout a woman’s life, factors like pregnancy, birth control and menopause can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure. Other factors, such as diet, exercise and smoking can be addressed through lifestyle changes to reduce your risk for high blood pressure.Īfter 65, women are more likely than men to get high blood pressure. You can't control some risk factors, such as age, ethnicity and gender. High blood pressure can be caused by many factors.
It is advisable to repeat the measurement up to three times in a row (with a pause of few minutes in between) to establish a correct value.What can I do to control my blood pressure? It is also important to note that blood pressure values may be affected by adrenaline, emotions, exercise, sleep patterns and digestion so make sure you pick a good time to do the screening, or otherwise your measurements will not be accurate. Usually highest reading will be observed in the morning, while lowest readings will be observed in the evening or during the night, when body is at rest. Consecutive measurement will show a circadian rhythm over a 24-hour period. It is normal that blood pressure fluctuates during the day. Periodic checks can be done at home, using an appropriate and certified monitor, or by regular check-ups with your personal doctor. It is advisable to regularly monitor blood pressure values in order to detect any deviations early. Check out the blood pressure charts below to find out whether your values are within normal limits or try out our tool to help you evaluate your blood pressure figures more accurately.