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By Lahle Wolfe Sources High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease from The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Fast Click to Complications Amputation Diabetes Treatment & Management Diabetes Type 1 Conventional Treatments Complimentary Treatments Lifestyle Approaches to Diabetes Management A vegetable-rich diet can help to reduce blood pressure, researchers say. Hypertension & Women (LifeClinic.com Links) Does menopause affect blood pressure? Do oral contraceptives raise blood pressure? High blood pressure and bone weakening. High Blood Pressure Isn't Well Controlled in Older Women. Symptoms of High Blood Pressure (LifeClinic.com Links) How do I know when my blood pressure is high? What are the symptoms of high blood pressure? Headaches & High Blood Pressure (LifeClinic.com Links) Is Headache Related to Increases of Blood Pressure? Study Proves Headaches Are Not Related to Blood Pressure Measuring High Blood Pressure (LifeClinic.com Links) Do You Have 'White Coat Hypertension'? Stress & High Blood Pressure (LifeClinic.com Links) Panic attacks more common in people with high blood pressure. Does stress cause hypertension? 'Fight or flight' response raises blood pressure -- even while you're asleep Read our review on The Sharper Image's Carb-Tracker Scale. If you count carbs (or calories, fat, protein, and fiber) the scale is valuable for fine tuning your diet. You weigh food items, enter a food code and voile! Based on the weight of the food the exact nutritional count appears magically. The scale has become a daily part of my carb counting for myself as well as Elizabeth (my daughter with type 1). I was skeptical, but found the weight of fruit and vegetables varies considerably and knowing a more exact carb count has helped us both. If you wish to purchase the scale, click on the More LinksA guide to lowering high blood pressure from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute The DASH diet from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute High Blood Pressure (from the American Heart Association) High Blood Pressure from MedlinePlus
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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and Diabetes Mini Site Index What is Blood
Pressure? The heart pumps blood throughout the body in vessels called arteries. Blood pressure is the measure of how much force (or pressure) pushes against the walls of your arteries. There are two numbers used to measure blood pressure, systolic and diastolic pressure. They will be shown as one number over another, with the systolic number always listed first. For example, the number 120/80 would mean: (Systolic Pressure) 120 over (Diastolic Pressure) 80 Systolic Pressure This measures how much pressure is put on atery walls when the heart pumps (the most pressure is present when the heart pumps.) The average, normal heart rate is 60-70 pumps per minute when a person is at rest. Diastolic Pressure This measures how much pressure is put on the arteries when the heart rests between beats. Your pressure will fall briefly in between each heart beat. What is normal blood pressure for nondiabetics? It is normal for blood pressure to fluctuate a little through the night and day. For example, it is lowest when you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active, and certain medications can either increase or decrease blood pressure. But for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still. A normal blood pressure level would be lower than 120/80. When the level stays high (140/90 or higher), you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure makes the heart work harder and your arteries take a beating. High blood pressure (hypertension) increases your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems. Blood Pressure Values
What do the Numbers Mean? If you have diabetes without kidney problems the usual target is to reduce blood pressure to 140/80 mmHg or below. Some experts advise the target should be even lower at 130/80 mmHg or below. Your own doctor will advise on what target you should aim for. If you have a complication of diabetes called diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage) - The target is then to reduce blood pressure even lower - to 135/75 mmHg or below. Again, some experts would advise even lower, to 130/75 mmHg or below. Your own doctor will advise what target you should aim for. For people with diabetes:
High blood pressure can also be:
Note: it can be confusing as the definition of high blood pressure in the general population is 140/90 mmHg or above. However, for people with diabetes, bringing blood pressure down to the lower target levels described above is beneficial to reduce the increased health risks associated with diabetes. Signs and Symptoms of HypertensionHypertension is usually found incidentally - "case finding" by healthcare professionals. It normally produces no symptoms but sometimes may evidence in malignant hypertension (or accelerated hypertension, a late stage 2 in the condition) and may present with headaches, blurred vision, and end-organ damage. Hypertension is often confused with mental tension, stress and anxiety. While chronic anxiety is associated with poor outcomes in people with hypertension, it alone does not cause it. Causes of HypertensionEssential hypertension
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