But because Americans eat so much salt, the AHA says a positive change can occur by cutting back to even 2,300 mg a day.

The American Heart Association (AHA) advises an 'ideal' amount of sodium: no more than 1,500 mg a day. Fluid retention caused by too much salt increases blood volume and blood pressure. Reducing sodium in your diet reduces fluid retention. This also provides an enhanced amount of potassium which can also help lower blood pressure. DASH also encourages eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, low-fat or non-fat dairy, whole-grains, and foods high in fiber, and low in fat. This plan helps reduce blood pressure by limiting the amount of sodium (salt) you have in your diet. Ask your doctor about the DASH eating plan. Eating healthier meals helps you control your blood pressure.

Below are steps you can take that will help lower your blood pressure.Ĭhoose heart-healthy foods. If your blood pressure is too high, work with your doctor on a plan for lowering it. Talk with your healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about your blood pressure readings. High blood pressure is diagnosed when multiple, separate readings show blood pressure above 130/80 mmHg. Stage 2 high blood pressure is when systolic is 140 or higher or the diastolic is 90 or higher Stage 1 high blood pressure is systolic is 130 to 139 or diastolic between 80 to 89 Normal blood pressure is systolic of less than 120 and diastolic of less than 80 (120/80)Įlevated blood pressure is systolic of 120 to 129 and diastolic less than 80 This is the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.īlood pressure is categorized as normal, elevated, or stage 1 or stage 2 high blood pressure: Diastolic blood pressure is the lower number. This is the pressure when the heart contracts. Systolic blood pressure is the upper number. Blood pressure measurements are given as 2 numbers. It's important to know your blood pressure numbers. Your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to help control blood pressure if lifestyle changes are not enough. In general, if you have high blood pressure, keeping your blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg may help prevent these problems. It can also lead to kidney disease, and blindness. High blood pressure raises your risk of heart attack, also known as acute myocardial infarction, or AMI, heart failure, and stroke. High blood pressure also causes your heart to work harder to get blood out to the body. Plaque sticks to the scarred tissue narrowing and hardening the arteries. This causes damage to the artery walls and then the formation of scar tissue as it heals. High blood pressure occurs when blood pushes too hard against artery walls. In a healthy blood vessel, the blood moves smoothly through the vessel and puts normal pressure on the vessel walls.

Senior blood pressure chart