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Take the Blood Pressure Quiz

When the doctor measures your blood pressure, he or she is looking at two different numbers: the systolic pressure (measured as the heart contracts to push blood into the arteries) and the diastolic pressure (measured as the heart relaxes between contractions). Both numbers are important to your heart health. Do you know what your blood pressure is? Test your knowledge of blood pressure by taking the following quiz.

1. If you don’t have any chronic illnesses or other health problems, how often should you have your blood pressure checked?
   A. Every year
   B. Every two to three years
   C. Every five years
   D. Every 10 years
   
   
2. Which of these factors may affect blood pressure?
   A. Hot weather
   B. Viral infections
   C. Air pollution
   D. Elevation above sea level
   E. A and B
   
   
3. What is a symptom of high blood pressure?
   A. Racing heartbeat
   B. Elevated temperature
   C. Fatigue
   D. It has no discernible symptoms
   
   
4. Which of these may increase your risk of hypertension?
   A. Obesity
   B. A family history of hypertension
   C. Smoking
   D. All of the above
   
   
5. If a person has no chronic illnesses or other health conditions, at what point is blood pressure considered hypertensive?
   A. 120 over 80
   B. 130 over 85
   C. 140 over 90
   D. 210 over 120
   
   
6. Uncontrolled hypertension can be the main cause of which of these?
   A. Cancer
   B. Strokes
   C. Diabetes
   D. Congestive heart failure
   E. B and D
   
   
7. Which of these may contribute to hypertension?
   A. High vitamin C consumption
   B. High alcohol consumption
   C. High calcium consumption
   D. All of the above
   
   
8. People in which of these groups are more likely to develop hypertension?
   A. African Americans
   B. Older adults
   C. People with diabetes
   D. A and C
   
   
9. Which of the following may be helpful in controlling blood pressure?
   A. Potassium
   B. Sodium
   C. Magnesium
   D. A and C
   
   
10. What can you do to control high blood pressure?
    A. Attain and maintain a healthful weight
    B. Exercise regularly
    C. Take prescription medication
    D. All of the above

1. B, every two to three years. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that all people 21 years old and older get their blood pressure checked regularly. If you have normal blood pressure (below 140/85 mm Hg), you should get yours checked every two years. If your diastolic pressure (the second number in a blood pressure reading) is 85 to 89 mm Hg, you should get your blood pressure checked every year.
   
   
2. E, A and B. Blood pressure can drop when temperatures rise. Vessels dilate when it's hot and constrict when it's cold. The stress of infection occasionally can increase blood pressure.
   
   
3. D, it usually has no discernible symptoms. That's why hypertension is called the silent killer.
   
   
4. D, all of the above. Other factors that increase your risk for hypertension: diabetes; age 60 or older; being a man, or a woman past menopause; inactivity; high cholesterol; and high-normal blood pressure (130-139/85-89 mm Hg). A direct cause isn't known in 90 percent of cases, however.
   
   
5. C, 140 over 90. This indicates mild hypertension. If your blood pressure is at this level or higher, you should see your health care provider. High-normal blood pressure is 130-139/85-89. If this is your blood pressure, it could be a problem. Talk to your doctor about making needed changes in what you eat and drink, getting physical activity, and losing extra weight. If you also have diabetes, see your doctor. Normal blood pressure is less than 130/85. If this is your blood pressure, have it checked regularly. Optimal blood pressure is 120/80. If this is your blood pressure, have it checked every two years.
   
   
6. E, B and D. Besides strokes and CHF, other conditions can be caused by high blood pressure, or made worse. These include dementia and memory loss associated with old age, kidney disease and retinal damage. High blood pressure may also play a role in bone loss and erectile dysfunction.
   
   
7. B, high alcohol consumption. Drinking more than one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men increases the risk for hypertension. One drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1-1/2 ounces of 80-proof whiskey.
   
   
8. D, A and C. Fifty-four percent of men and women ages 65 to 74 have hypertension. Among African Americans, the number is 72 percent. Hypertension is more common in people with diabetes, and the two conditions seem to work together to speed up the damage from heart disease common in people with diabetes.
   
   
9. D, A and C. Several nutrients are believed to be important in maintaining a healthy blood pressure. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recommends that you get 4,700 mg of potassium, 500 mg of magnesium, 1,240 mg of calcium, 90 grams of protein and 30 grams of fiber each diet in your diet. Most people eat more salt and sodium than they need, according to the NHLBI. Most people need no more than 2,400 mg of sodium a day, including the sodium found in processed foods, as well as what you add when cooking or eating. That's about a teaspoon of table salt. If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may tell you to cut your intake even more.
   
   
10. D, all of the above. Being overweight increases your risk for developing high blood pressure: Blood pressure rises as body weight increases, according to the NHLBI. Being overweight also is a risk factor for heart disease. It also increases your chance for developing high blood cholesterol and diabetes, two more risk factors for heart disease. To lose weight safely, try to eat fewer foods high in fat and calories and increase your physical activity. Regular aerobic exercise can tone your heart, blood vessels and muscles and keep your blood pressure low. Try for at least 30 minutes of moderate-level activity on most, and preferably all, days of the week. Moderate-level activities include walking briskly; general housecleaning; mowing the lawn with power mower; gardening; dancing; and cycling at a moderate speed. Consult your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen if you have high blood pressure. Learn to cope with stress. Stress can make blood pressure go up for a while, and it has been thought to contribute to high blood pressure, according to the NHLBI. The long-term effects of stress are as unclear, however, and stress management techniques do not seem to prevent high blood pressure. Stress management techniques may help you control overeating, and in turn your weight. Ideas for reducing stress include meditation, listening to stress-management tapes or doing relaxation exercises. If you have high blood pressure, lifestyle changes may not lower your blood pressure enough. If they don't, your doctor may put you on drug therapy. Your doctor is your best source of information on this issue.