March 99
Test Your Health:
What’s Your Blood Pressure I.Q.? |
| High
blood pressure, or hypertension as it is also known, affects millions of Americans. |
| High blood pressure, or hypertension as it is also
known, affects millions of Americans. It’s important for everyone to know what it is,
how it can impact their health, and how to prevent or treat it. The following quiz can
help. True or False...
(click here
for answers)
- Blood pressure is the measure of how many times a minute your heart
beats.
- "The more narrow my arteries become, the lower my blood pressure
will be."
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- "Once my blood pressure is controlled by medication, I can stop
taking my medicine."
- In most cases, people with high blood pressure are placed on a
salt-restricted diet.
- "My blood pressure stays the same, whether I’m exercising
or at rest."
- "My blood pressure is measured as systolic over diastolic."
- High blood pressure is not a risk for coronary artery disease.
- "When I’m stressed or angry, my blood pressure can go
up."
- In many cases, high blood pressure can be prevented with proper diet
and exercise.
- "After a vigorous workout, I should stop and rest."
- The heart is a muscle.
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Answers
- False. Blood pressure is the measure of force needed
to push blood through the arteries.
- False. The narrower the arteries, the more force
needed to push the blood through, therefore the higher the resistance or blood pressure.
- False. The medication alters certain factors in the
body to allow the pressure to stay low. Without aid of medication, the pre-existing
conditions of the body will make the pressure high again.
- True. Sodium, which is found in salt, causes the
body to retain water, which increases the blood volume. This requires greater effort to
push blood through the arteries.
- False. During exercise, the heart beats faster as it
pumps blood into the arteries with greater force. Since the arteries can only stretch so
far, they resist the force of the heart beat, thus increasing the blood pressure.
It’s important to note, however, that exercise lowers your blood pressure when
you’re at rest, and has numerous other benefits.
- True. Systolic is the heart’s contraction as it
forces blood out to the arteries. Diastolic is the relaxation and filling of the
heart’s chambers with blood.
- False. The wear and tear on your arteries as blood
is being forced through causes a breakdown of the inner lining of the arteries. The lower
your blood pressure, the less stress on your arteries. Plaque and fat deposits get caught
on these areas of "wear and tear," causing narrowing of the artery, and
eventually, if not treated, the artery closes off.
- True. Adrenaline is released in the blood stream
causing the heart to beat faster.
- True. Proper diet includes low sodium and low fat
intakes. Exercise decreases blood pressure by strengthening the heart muscle, which helps
it pump out a greater amount of blood with less effort.
- False. Cool down is very important after exercise.
It helps the heart return to a resting state, allows blood that has gone to the arms and
lets to return to the core of the body, and allows blood pressure to return to normal.
Adrenaline and other associated compounds are released during exercise. If exercise is
stopped abruptly, these compounds could bombard the heart and cause irregularities in its
rhythm.
- True. The heart is a muscle which becomes stronger
with exercise, as do your body’s other muscles.
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If you are concerned about your blood pressure, contact your
physician. If you need a physician, call 1-888-749-DrDr or click here.
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