© 2000 In the Know, Inc. What Is Hypertension? Hypertension…”HTN” for short...is the name for blood pressure that stays high over a long period of time.   With hypertension, the blood vessels become stiff , thick and/or narrow.  It takes more pressure to push blood through these damaged blood vessels—making the heart work harder and harder to pump blood throughout the body. Think of it like this...   Most of us find it easy to blow up a thin rubber balloon on our own, but imagine trying to blow up a car tire   without an air pump!  It would be impossible.  Why?  Because it takes much more work to inflate the stiff, thick rubber of a tire.    So what can you do?    Well...you can’t keep your clients from getting older or from getting diabetes.  And, you can’t change someone’s race.  But...you can encourage your clients to make smart lifestyle choices every day that help keep their blood pressure under control.  Keep reading to learn more... What Is Blood Pressure? As you know, the heart pumps blood through blood vessels into every part of the body.  As the blood flows, it pushes against the sides of the blood vessels.  When you measure blood pressure, you are measuring how hard the blood is pressing against the blood vessels.  The harder the blood presses, the higher the blood pressure will be. When you see a blood pressure (or BP) reading, it usually includes two numbers: 1.  The Top Number · The top number is called the systolic pressure.  It measures blood pressure at its highest point—as the heart muscle contracts to squeeze out more blood. 2.  The Bottom Number · The bottom number is called the diastolic pressure.  It measures blood pressure at its lowest point—as the heart   relaxes between heartbeats.    Blood Pressure Basics THE INSERVICE CLUB FOR NURSING ASSISTANTS PAGE 2      120       Systolic   80     Diastolic Remember...a normal blood pressure: · Stays below 140/90 most of the time. · Goes up and down throughout the day and night. · Is affected by the way people treat their bodies. Remember...hypertension: · Is a blood pressure that stays higher than 140/90 most of the time. · Often develops as people age. · Affects more men than women—until age 55 when women take over the “lead”. · Develops earlier in African Americans. · Tends to be more common in people with diabetes.