PREVENTION

You can take steps to prevent high blood pressure by adopting a healthy lifestyle.  These steps includes maintaining a healthy weight; being physically active; following a healthy eating plan, that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy foods; choosing and preparing foods with salt and sodium, and if you drink alcoholic beverages, drinking in moderation.  As you read along, you will learn more about healthy lifestyle habits for preventing and controlling high blood pressure.

                                    HYPERTENSION

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Hypertension (hi-per-ten-shun) is also known as high blood pressure.  It occurs when the blood pressing on the inside of the arteries is higher than normal.  High blood pressure may damage your blood arteries.  This may make it more likely you have a stroke, heart attack, kidney problems, or heart disease.  Being male African-American, or over 40 years may increase your chances of having high blood pressure.  High blood pressure does not go away without treatment.

To lower your blood pressure, quit smoking, lose weight, and exercise.  Eat foods low in salt and fat but high in fiber, such as vegetables, whole grains, or fruits.  learn to control stress.  You may also need to take medicine.

• Always take your medicine as directed by your caregiver.  If you think it is not helping or if you feel you are having side effects, call your caregiver.  Do NOT QUIT taking it until you discuss it with your caregiver
• Aspirin helps thin the blood to keep blood clots from forming.  If caregivers Want you take aspirin daily, do not take acetaminophen (uh-c-tuh-min-o-fin) or ibuprofen (i-bew-pro-fin) instead.
• If you are taking antibiotics (an-ti-bi-ah-tiks), take them until THEY are all gone even if you feel better.
• Do Not take over-the-counter medicine without talking to your caregiver.  Some of theses medicines may raise your blood pressure.
• Keep a written list of what medicines you are taking and When you take them.  Bring the list of your medicines or the pills bottles when you see your caregiver(s).  Learn why you take each medicine.  ask your caregiver for information about your medicines.
• If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, DO NOT DRIVE or Use Heavy Equipment.
• You may get dizzy when you change from a lying to a sitting position.  Get up slowly.  If you feel faint, lie down right away.
• Your medicine may make your nose stuffy, weaken you, or cause you to lose your appetite.
• You may need to have your medicine or dose changed many times before it is right for you.  It may take many weeks for your body to adjust to your blood pressure medicine.  Be Patient and DO NOT stop taking your medicine if you have side effects.  But Do let your caregiver know about ANY side effects.
• Do Not skip doses of your blood pressure medicine or take extra doses unless you are asked to so by your caregiver.  If you miss a dose, call your caregiver.
• High blood pressure is a long-term health problem.  You may need to take blood pressure medicine the rest of your life.  Your blood pressure probably will go back up if you stop taking the medicine.  With time caregivers may be able to lower the amount of blood pressure medicine that you take.  Taking blood pressure medicine is far easier than trying to fix the problem that untreated high blood pressure may cause.
• Vomiting, diarrhea, or sweating a lot can lower your blood pressure and make you dizzy.  Hot baths, hot weather, or even a fever can also lower your blood pressure.  If this happens, Call your caregiver so your medicine or its dose can be changed.
• Eat healthy foods from all of the 5 food groups which are fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish.  Eating healthy foods may help you feel better and have more energy.
• -----You may be told to eat foods that are low in fat and cholesterol (ko-les-ter-all).  Ask for the "Low Fat Diet" CareNotes ^tm handout for more information.
• -----You may also be told to limit the amount od salt you eat.  This may mean you should not add salt to your food when cooking or eating.  Read the labels for how much sodium (salt or sodium chloride) is in the food that you buy at the store.  Avoid foods and drinks that are high in sodium (salt).  These includes smoked meats (such as ham and bacon), cheese, canned and prepared frozen foods, and butter and margarines.  Read all labels carefully.  Don't add salt to your food.  Most people with high blood pressure should not eat more than 2300 milligrams (mg) of sodium every day.  Ask for the "Low Salt Diet" or "No Added Salt Diet" CareNotes ^TM handout for more information.  Learn to use fresh herbs, spices, or salt substitute to add flavor to your food.
• ------It can take time getting used to a new diet.  Special cookbooks may help the cook in the family find new recipes.
• Exercising makes the heart stronger, lowers blood pressure, and keeps you healthy.  Ask your caregiver to help you plan the best program for you.  start exercising when your caregiver says it is OK.  It it best to start slowly and do more as you get stronger.
• Stress may slow healing and cause illness later.  Since it is hard to avoid stress, learn to control it.  Learn new ways to relax (deep breathing, relaxing muscles, mediation, or biofeedback).  Talk to someone about things that upset you.
• If you smoke, you should quit.  It harms the heart, lungs, and the blood.  You are more likely to have a heart attack, lung disease, and cancer if you smoke.  It is never too late to quit.  Not only will you help yourself but also those around you.  If you have trouble quitting, talk to your caregiver about ways to quit.
• If you drink alcohol, limit how much you drink.  Do not drink more than 2 drinks a day.  One drink is a can of beer (12 ounces) or a 4-ounce (1/2 cup) glass of wine.  It is also the same as one jigger (1 ounce) of hard liquor, such as whiskey.
• You need to carefully control other illness that you may have, like diabetes or heart disease.  Because of the illnesses, you have a higher chance of having high blood pressure.

    Blood Pressure medicine can cause side effects.  Call your caregiver if you have the following side effects

•    Bloating (feeling of fullness in your body).
•    Constipation (problem having a BMs).
•    Depression.
•    Diarrhea.
•    Dizziness.
•    Dry mouth.
•    Headaches.
•    Hives.
•    Impotence (problem having an erection in men).
•    Itching of skin.
•    Problems staying awake.
•    Rash.
•    Sleeping problems.
•    Vomiting (throw up).
•    You faint (pass out) or have a seizure (convulsion).
•    You have chest pain.
•    You have a bad headache or trouble thinking clearly.
•    You have numbness or weakness on one side of your body.
•    You are having breathing problems.
•    You are coughing up blood or are having nosebleeds. 

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