"Everyone needs to know their blood pressure numbers, as there are often no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure."
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Tracy Sackett-Foster, PA-C is a Certified Physician Assistant at Mecosta Health Services
in Big Rapids.
She assists Family Practice Physician Thomas Wright, D.O.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. To schedule an appointment with Tracy, please call MHS at (231) 796-3200.
[Research: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and National Institutes of Health]
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High Blood Pressure in the United States
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High blood pressure: a force to be reckoned with
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. When that force stays too high, it becomes a life-threatening condition-high blood pressure (also called hypertension). It makes the heart work too hard, hardens the walls of arteries, and can cause the brain to hemorrhage or the kidneys to function poorly or not at all.
A blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg.
Who does high blood pressure impact?
 More than 65 million American adults - 1 in 3- have high blood pressure.
Nearly 60 million Americans are over age 55 which means they have a 90 percent likelihood of developing high blood pressure in their lifetimes.
African Americans are more likely to develop high blood pressure than any other racial or ethnic group and tend to develop it earlier and more severely than others.
18 million Americans have diabetes which increases their chances of developing high blood pressure.
122 million American adults are overweight or obese which increases their chances of developing high blood pressure.
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Risky business
Anyone can develop high blood pressure. But these factors increase the risk: being overweight or obese, being physically inactive, high salt and sodium intake, low potassium intake (due to not eating enough fruits and vegetables), excessive alcohol consumption, and diabetes.
Why should you care about high blood pressure?
High blood pressure can lead to numerous other life-threatening conditions, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure, the #1, #3, and #9 causes of death in the United States.
High blood pressure is a factor in 67 percent of heart attacks in the United States.
High blood pressure is a factor in 77 percent of strokes-the #3 cause of death in the U.S.
High blood pressure precedes 74 percent of cases of heart failure in the U.S.
High blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney failure in the United States-responsible for 26 percent of all cases.
High blood pressure causes more visits to doctors than any other condition – just a 10 percent decline in the number of visits would save $478 million each year.
High blood pressure affects circulation-creating a higher risk for mental deterioration and Alzheimer's.
High blood pressure and its complications cost the U.S. economy more than $100 billion each year.
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Know your numbers
Everyone needs to know their blood pressure numbers, as there are often no signs or symptoms of high blood pressure. That is why high blood pressure is called the silent killer.
Normal blood pressure
Systolic blood pressure, the top number in a blood pressure reading, is key to watch-especially in older Americans. Research shows that the effective treatment of high systolic blood pressure saves lives and greatly reduces illness.
Prehypertension (between 120/80 and /or 139/89 mmHg) presents more danger than earlier believed. The 59 million Americans with prehypertension are more likely to develop high blood pressure, heart disease, high blood pressure, heart disease, and kidney failure.
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