For Phil Daoust, who has struggled with high blood pressure since his early 50s, this condition, commonly referred to as hypertension, has long presented considerable burdens in his life. Hypertension is responsible for more than 10 million deaths annually worldwide. Exploring a better world starts with understanding this condition and it’s more important now than ever. Blood pressure, measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), is a key measure of cardiovascular health and our nation’s overall health.
Hypertension is a widespread and insidious condition, rarely attracting attention until severe health consequences become evident. The National Health Service (NHS) considers “normal” blood pressure to be anywhere from 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg. As soon as blood pressure crosses the line of 135/85 mmHg or 140/90 mmHg, it is no longer possible to monitor without medical intervention. Today, Daoust’s average blood pressure actually is around 125/72 mmHg, which is indeed a little high. There was an ominous peak at 155/87 mmHg.
Blood pressure measurement has come a long way over the years. The Reverend Stephen Hales, an English clergyman and researcher, first measured blood pressure more than 300 years ago in horses. Following this initial exploration, Jean Faivre, a French surgeon, made the first human blood pressure measurement in 1856 during an amputation. These initial endeavors set the stage for our current understanding and management of hypertension.
Hypertension can be categorized into various degrees. The area referred to as pre-hypertension that lies between “normal” and “high” blood pressure is not risk-free. Per the experts, those who go by the label of “pre-hypertensives or high normals” suffer health risks that should not be ignored.
“Your blood pressure is not high all the time.” – Dr. Sabine Donnai
Daoust’s experience of frequent up and down blood pressure serves as an example for the multifaceted challenges of living and controlling this condition. Blood pressure naturally rises and falls over the course of a day depending on things like stress level, movement, etc. Systolic pressure—the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats—should be between 100 and 120 mmHg. Conversely, diastolic pressure refers to the pressure in blood vessels—namely arteries—between heartbeats.
Clearly, lifestyle changes should be the first line of treatment to help lower blood pressure. Dietary salt consumption is an important health determinant. Currently, health organizations recommend that people eat less than 6 grams of salt daily. Furthermore, physical activity is a significant contributor to blood pressure reduction among individuals with pre-hypertension.
Donnai highlights the key step of understanding stressors in everyday life and how they relate to blood pressure.
“You might think that’s normal because you’re at work and you’re busy. But even in the evening and the night, when you’re supposed to be relaxing, there’s very little recovery,” – Dr. Sabine Donnai
She stresses that most people aren’t allowing their bodies to heal from the stress of each day. This inability for the blood vessels to properly recover from each heartbeat results in elevated measures of blood pressure.
Indeed, isometric exercises, like wall squats, have been identified as a powerful, drug-free tool in fighting pre-hypertension. According to Isofitter, “many people find the exercise easy to do.” These convenient workouts provide a door to keeping active for everyone. They do a damn good job of keeping blood pressure in check.