Diet and Hypertension

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Diet and Hypertension

• Created by
• Tricia Fleming, University of Kansas Dietetic
  Intern
  
• Tammy Beason, MS, Nutrition Education
  Specialist, Family Nutrition Education Program
  
• December 2001

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What is Blood Pressure?

• The force of blood against the wall of the
  arteries.
  
• Systolic- as the heart beats
• Diastolic - as the heart relaxes
• Written as systolic over diastolic.
• Normal Blood pressure is less than 130 mm Hg
  systolic and less than 85 mm Hg diastolic.

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High Blood Pressure

• A consistent blood pressure of 140/90 mm Hg or
  higher is considered high blood pressure.
  
• It increases chance for heart disease, kidney
  disease, and for having a stroke.
  
• 1 out of 4 Americans have High Bp.
• Has no warning signs or symptoms.

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Why is High Blood Pressure Important?

• Makes the Heart work too hard.
• Makes the walls of arteries hard.
• Increases risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Can cause heart failure, kidney disease, and
  blindness.

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How Does It Effect the Body?The Brain

• High blood pressure is the most important risk
  factor for stroke.
  
• Can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel
  which then bleeds in the brain.

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The Heart

• High Blood Pressure is a major risk factor for
  heart attack.
  
• Is the number one risk factor for Congestive
  Heart Failure.

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The Kidneys

• Kidneys act as filters to rid the body of
  wastes.
  
• High blood pressure can narrow and thicken the
  blood vessels.
  
• Waste builds up in the blood, can result in
  kidney damage.

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The Eyes

• Can eventually cause blood vessels to break and
  bleed in the eye.
  
• Can result in blurred vision or even blindness.

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The Arteries

• Causes arteries to harden.
• This in turn causes the kidneys and heart to work
  harder.
  
• Contributes to a number of problems.

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What causes High Blood Pressure?

• Causes vary
• Narrowing of the arteries
• Greater than normal volume of blood
• Heart beating faster or more forcefully than it
  should
  
• Another medical problem
• The exact cause is not known.

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Who can develop High Blood Pressure?

• Anyone, but it is more common in
• African Americans- get it earlier and more often
  then Caucasians.
  
• As we get older. 60 of Americans over 60 have
  hypertension.
  
• Overweight, family history
• High normal bp135-139/85-89 mm Hg.

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Detection

• Dr.s will diagnose a person with 2 or more
  readings of 140/90mm Hg or higher taken on more
  than one occasion.
  
• White-Coat Hypertension
• Measured using a spygmomameter.

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Tips for Having your blood pressure taken.

• Dont drink coffee or smoke cigarettes for 30
  minutes before.
  
• Before test sit for five minutes with back
  supported and feet flat on the ground. Test your
  arm on a table even with your heart.
  
• Wear short sleeves so your arm is exposed.

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Tips for having blood pressure taken.

• Go to the bathroom before test. A full bladder
  can affect bp reading.
  
• Get 2 readings and average the two of them.
• Ask the Dr. or nurse to tell you the result in
  numbers.

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Categories of High Blood Pressure

• Ages 18 Years and Older)
• Blood Pressure Level (mm Hg)
• Category Systolic Diastolic
• Optimal
• Normal
• High Normal 130139 8589

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Categories of High Blood Pressure

• High Blood Pressure
• Stage 1 140159 /9099
• Stage 2 160179 /100109
• Stage 3 180 /110

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Preventing Hypertension

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle by
• Following a healthy eating pattern.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Being Physically Active.
• Limiting Alcohol.
• Quitting Smoking.

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DASH diet

• Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
• Was an 11 week trial.
• Differences from the food pyramid
• an increase of 1 daily serving of veggies.
• and increase of 1-2 servings of fruit.
• inclusion of 4-5 servings of nuts,seeds, and
  beans.

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Tips for Reducing Sodium

• Buy fresh, plain frozen or canned no added salt
  veggies.
  
• Use fresh poultry, lean meat, and fish.
• Use herbs, spices, and salt-free seasonings at
  the table and while cooking.
  
• Choose convenience foods low in salt.
• Rinse canned foods to reduce sodium.

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Maintain Healthy Weight

• Blood pressure rises as weight rises.
• Obesity is also a risk factor for heart disease.
• Even a 10 weight loss can reduce blood pressure.

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Be Physically Active

• Helps lower blood pressure and lose/ maintain
  weight.
  
• 30 minutes of moderate level activity on most
  days of week. Can even break it up into 10
  minute sessions.
  
• Use stairs instead of elevator, get off bus 2
  stops early, Park your car at the far end of the
  lot and walk!

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Limit Alcohol Intake

• Alcohol raises blood pressure and can harm liver,
  brain, and heart
  
• What counts as a drink?
• 12 oz beer
• 5 oz of wine
• 1.5 oz of 80 proof whiskey

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Quit Smoking

• Injures blood vessel walls
• Speeds up process of hardening of the arteries.

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Other Treatment

• If Lifestyle Modification is not working, blood
  pressure medication may be needed, there are
  several types
  
• Diuretics-work on the kidney to remove access
  water and fluid from body to lower bp.
  
• Beta blockers-reduce impulses to the heart and
  blood vessels.

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Other Treatment

• ACE inhibitors- cause blood vessels to relax and
  blood to flow freely.
  
• Angiotensin antagonists- work the same as ACE
  inhibitors.
  
• Calcium Channel Blockers- causes the blood vessel
  to relax and widen.
  
• Alpha Blocker- blocks an impulse to the heart
  causing blood to flow more freely.

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Other Treatment

• Alpha-beta blockers- work the same as beta
  blockers, also slow the heart down.
  
• Nervous system inhibitors- slow nerve impulses to
  the heart.
  
• Vasodilators- cause blood vessel to widen,
  allowing blood to flow more freely.

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Conclusion

• Hypertension is a very controllable disease, with
  drastic consequences if left uncontrolled.
  
• Great Resource www.nhlbi.nih.gov