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How Much Do You Know About Hypertension?
- Which of these changeable factors affects blood pressure?
A. The amount of salt you eat
B. The amount of alcohol you drink
C. Being overweight
D. All of the above
- Which of these unchangeable factors increases your risk of high blood pressure (hypertension)?
A. Being 40 or older
B. Being a woman
C. Having close blood relatives that have high blood pressure
D. A and C
- Which of these ethnic groups/races has the highest risk of hypertension?
A. Hispanics
B. African Americans
C. Caucasians
D. B and C
- Generally speaking, someone has hypertension if his or her blood pressure level is at or above which of these?
A. 130 over 85
B. 145 over 80
C. 125 over 100
D. B and C
- Untreated hypertension may cause which of these?
A. Kidney failure
B. Vision changes
C. Stroke or heart attack
D. All of the above
- Most people with hypertension have:
A. Headaches
B. Chest pain
C. No symptoms
D. A and B
- Which of these may help control blood pressure?
A. Exercising regularly
B. Limiting alcoholic drinks
C. Not smoking
D. All of the above
- How is hypertension treated?
A. Drug therapy
B. Surgery
C. Lifestyle changes
D. A and C
The answers
- D, all of the above. Most people eat more salt and sodium than they need, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Most people need no more than 2,300 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 health care provider may tell you to cut back even more. Too much alcohol also can raise blood pressure. The AHA recommends no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. People who are obese, who have a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, are at higher risk for high blood pressure.
- D, A and C. The older you are, the more likely you are to develop high blood pressure, the AHA says. High blood pressure is more common in people over age 35. Men most often develop it between age 35 and 55, and women, after menopause. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, you are at higher risk for it.
- B, African Americans. About one in three adults has high blood pressure, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). African Americans are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure than Caucasian or Hispanic Americans. In this group, high blood pressure appears earlier in life and can be more severe.
- D, B and C. Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries, says the NHLBI. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: the systolic pressure (as the heart contracts) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80." You have high blood pressure if your systolic pressure is 140 or above, and/or if your diastolic pressure is 90 or above. An optimal reading would be less than 120 over 80, according to the NHLBI.
- D, all of the above. Untreated hypertension may increase the risk for heart attack and stroke. High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke, according to the AHA. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. High blood pressure is also a major risk factor for heart attack and congestive heart failure. High blood pressure can also affect vision; blood vessels in the eye may burst or bleed from the pressure, and this can result in blindness. High blood pressure also causes the kidneys to work harder, because the pressure makes the blood vessels of the kidneys narrow and thicken. The kidneys filter less fluid and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail.
- C, no symptoms. High blood pressure usually has no symptoms, although in rare cases it may cause headaches. This is why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly, so that it can be caught early. If needed, it can be treated before it damages the heart, kidneys, or other parts of the body.
- D, all of the above. Other ways include losing extra weight and getting your blood pressure checked regularly.
- D, A and C. It is important to take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment goal is blood pressure below 140/90 and even lower for people with other conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. Adopting healthy lifestyle habits is an effective first step in both preventing and controlling high blood pressure. If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in keeping your pressure controlled, it may be necessary to add drug therapy. Talk to your doctor to see if such therapy is appropriate for you
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