Is your blood pressure a BIG secret?

By Tomlin Paul, 50 and living better

After my first semester in medical school it was not just the Christmas spirit I was feeling on my return home. My relatives were all excited and expected a lot from me after three months of learning the basic medical sciences! Everybody wanted a check-up! Luckily I had learnt to take blood pressure and had my instruments. I realised from that time that people are very grateful for a blood pressure check. It has remained a popular request of me both in and out of office. By the time you get to 50 years in the same way you know things like your height, shoe size and weight, you should know your usual blood pressure. And with the goal of living better and longer, I encourage you to work on getting a healthy reading.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is really the force of blood against the walls of the blood vessels or arteries. It is recorded as two numbers - the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). A blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed as "120 over 80." A good rule of thumb to start with is to ensure that your blood pressure does not go above 130/80. But do work with your doctor to identify what your particular target should be.

High blood pressure is a bad secret

The higher your blood pressure, the more strain there is on the heart and the arteries and also your kidneys. You can have a reading which is bad for your body and yet have no symptoms. In fact, this is very often the case. The only way you can be sure is to check it. At the end of the day we can trace high blood pressure as a big contributor to heart failure, heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes, some diseases of the eyes and even erectile dysfunction.

Regular checks for your body

The reality is that by not knowing your blood pressure, you could be keeping a bad secret very close to your chest! Now you can get it checked at your doctor's office or local health centre, but there may be other places to do so such as the nurse at your workplace, your pharmacy or church clinic. Investing in a machine to do it at home is also a good option. Partner with your doctor or nurse as you check it and get personal guidance and feedback to prevent unnecessary worrying.

Keeping it controlled

As you check your blood pressure, remember these few things: use less and less salt, have more fruits and fresh vegetables, do 30 minutes of brisk exercise five times a week, get a good night's sleep and very importantly if you are prescribed medication, take it as ordered. If you have problems with your medication go back and speak with your doctor. Now that your blood pressure is no longer a secret you must do all that is necessary to always have a healthy reading.

Dr Tomlin Paul is a family physician at Health Plus Associates in Kingston; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.