Blood Pressure - Check it and Check it Often
At BayCare, we’ve made tracking blood pressure easy with over 120 wellness stations at locations throughout West Central Florida. These wellness stations can help to track blood pressure over time.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. The force is generated with each heartbeat as blood is pumped from the heart into the blood vessels. Each time the heart beats (contracts and relaxes) pressure is created inside the arteries. The pressure is greatest when blood is pumped out of the heart into the arteries. When the heart relaxes between beats (blood is not moving out of the heart), the pressure falls in the arteries.
Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure:
High blood pressure, or hypertension, directly increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke. With high blood pressure, the arteries have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood. Usually high blood pressure has no signs or symptoms. However, you can know if your blood pressure is high by having it measured regularly.
Blood pressure may vary at different times of the day and during different activities. Develop a routine to measure your blood pressure regularly. Listen to our podcast to learn about the blood pressure categories and guidelines.
The first step in preventing high blood pressure is knowing both the risk factors and the things you can do to help control it.
Nearly one-third of all Americans have high blood pressure, but it is particularly prevalent in:
The following conditions contribute to high blood pressure:
High blood pressure can be controlled by:
Routinely checking your blood pressure can help determine if it falls into a high blood pressure range or category. We recommend you always share your blood pressure numbers with your doctor. Need a doctor? Fill out the form on this page, and we’ll help you find one.