Controlled Blood Pressure, The Force of Purpose Driven Health, Creativity and Longevity
`"We are all alike, on the inside".
-Mark Dwain
If the fairy godmother came around to grant you one wish, what would you ask for? With a gentle tap of her magic wand, you can have a lifetime wish fulfilled. Our dreams and wishes are as unique as we are, but chances are that few people would ask for a therapeutic blood pressure (BP). I would, and I will tell you why.
When the lumen of the arteries is not clogged with cholesterol and sticky plague, the blood meets less resistance and lower pressure. This decreases atherosclerosis and stiffening of the arteries. Then blood can then flow like a lazy river throughout the vascular system. This supplies oxygen and nutrients to the cells and vitalizes the body. When the blood pressure is up to par, less strain and wear and tear are placed on the heart and the intima (inside) of the blood vessels. This promotes health, longevity, and gives us the energy we need to go about business as usual. By nurturing the state of our cardiovascular system, we can shift our awareness to creativity and purpose driven intentions. Best of all, in the process we may catch our dreams.
High blood pressure, also called hypertension (HTN), is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the leading cause of death in the U. S. and the western world. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one person dies every 36 seconds from CVD in the United States. CVD is disease of the cardio (heart) and vascular (blood vessels) system. This also include blood flow going to the brain, to the arms, and to the legs. Unfortunately, I am well versed in this disease process, and not only from my critical care nursing experience.
My father died from a heart attack at age 41, and my mother suffered a stroke at 64. Knowing the mess, the drama, and the suffering caused by CVD, I have been on a mission to keep my blood pressure in a normal range. In fact, I want to enlighten others who don’t know about the importance of CVD prevention. Until now, I have been successful. But I am hanging on by a thread. On my last physical, I checked in at 136/86. “That is too high,” the nurse said. An ideal BP is less than 120/80. The top number is called systolic, when the heart is beating. The bottom number is called diastolic when the heart is resting between beats. She took it again and now it was 148/92.
Having had my blood pressure controlled without medication may not last forever, because our blood pressure tends to increase with age. According to a U.S. survey, 70% of adults 65 years and older suffer from high blood pressure. Our blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day, depending on what we think, how we feel, and what we are doing. Then it settles at a baseline. The only way to know your own BP is to measure it. An official diagnosis of borderline (120-129/80),](https://www.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/what-is-high-blood-pressure.pdf+)[Opens new window] and HTN (130-139/80-89), is done after several readings by a health care provider, on at least two different occasions. HTN is called the silent killer because we often don’t know we have it, we cannot see it, and there are usually no sign and symptoms.
The good news is that HTN it is a modifiable risk factor; we have the power to do something about it. This is opposed to nonmodifiable risk factors, like age, sex, race, and family history. BP control can be achieved with a healthy lifestyle and medication compliance. If you have been diagnosed and are taking blood pressure medication, stick with your regime. Take your meds as ordered. This is called secondary prevention. If you have experienced a stroke or a heart attack and are under the care of a cardiologist, stick with the regime. Go to cardiac rehab if that is an option. This is called tertiary prevention. I am still on primary prevention. I have not been diagnosed yet, but that may change. The readings on my next cardiology visit are critical. I hope my previous readings were due to stress and the white coat syndrome
https://professional.heart.org/-/media/files/health-topics/answers-by-heart/what-is-high-blood-pressure.pdf
https:/www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/facts.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482514/
https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2020/02/26/06/24/older-adults-and-hypertension
https://professional.heart.org/-/media/Files/Health-Topics/Answers-by-Heart/What-Is-High-Blood-Pressure.pdf
https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.119.14240
White coat syndrome refers to in office higher than normal blood pressure readings, compared to at home self-monitoring readings that are normal. For others, the opposite may be true. Masked hypertension is a syndrome applied to people who have normal readings in the doctor’s office but are hypertensive when out of the clinical setting.
Until my next cardiology appointment, I will do more than just hope and pray. I will do my daily training routine, meditate to manage stress, and most importantly, I will do the DASH.
If you never heard of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan, you are in for a pleasant treat. This award-winning eating plan is based on whole, fresh, and minimally processed foods. Fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, fish, lean proteins, whole grains, and nuts are foods that are tasty, natural, and stop hunger. You may know that salt reduction is important for blood pressure control, but did you know that potassium, calcium, and magnesium help to maintain a good blood pressure? It is all about balance. The combination of wholesome foods on the DASH plan nourishes our body on the cellular level.
The clinical significance of the DASH is that it lower blood pressure, AND reduces excess body weight, cholesterol, and insulin resistance. These are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Along with cigarette smoking, overuse of alcohol, and a sedentary lifestyle, we put ourselves at risk for a heart attack and stroke. We don’t want that. Quit negative behaviors and begin the DASH. The DASH diet plan even makes us beautiful from the inside out. It lowers inflammation and promotes longevity.
Don’t let high blood pressure get in the way of you living your best life. Out of control blood pressure is the gateway to the cardiovascular disease process. We don’t want that. We want excellent blood flow to all the body organs and optimize our heart and brain function. A life span of 65+ years is a privilege not given to everyone. The years we have left should be used to feel good, enjoy life, and be happy. My aim is to exit this delightful life at age 113, when my youngest grandchild turns 50. By embracing purpose driven health, we not only empower ourselves, but we also inspire others to follow suit. Best of all, we need no magic touch from the fairy godmother.
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🇳🇴Annelie Holmene Pelaez believes that we all have something to teach each other. Her contribution is to help adults over age 65 to gain better health and more happiness in body, mind, and spirit. Her expertise is based on her Norwegian background, experience in critical care nursing, and meditation practice. In her book, Say Yes To a Better Life, she explains that mindfulness nurtured by meditation and health literacy is the key to sustaining a healthy, self-actualized life, as well as inner peace and confidence. For questions , more information, or to purchase her book, reach her at www.northboundspry.com.
