Although awareness has increased in the past few years, not all British Columbians realize the link between High Blood Pressure, Heart disease and Sleep Apnea or severe snoring. In fact, recent studies show over eighty percent of patients with severe heart disease have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. The month of May is High Blood Pressure education month, if you or someone you love has high blood pressure read on for some important facts about High Blood Pressure.
Hypertension (another common word for High Blood Pressure) is the number one cause of Heart Disease and Cardiac Attack.
What is Blood Pressure?
We commonly speak of blood pressure in the medical community, but let’s review the important facts about what blood pressure actually is. When your blood pressure is taken, the device used measures your systolic (the top number) which is during an actual heart beat, your diastolic (the bottom number) is when your heart is in between beats and is relaxed (hence lower number).
High blood pressure means that the pressure created by your heart beat is higher in the arteries then it should be!
We often categorize blood pressure into three classes. Low, Medium and High risk. The higher the “risk” the higher your chance of stroke and heart disease.
Systolic/Diastolic (the top number/ the bottom number):
Low risk: 120 / 80
Medium risk: 121-139 / 80 – 89
High risk: 140+ / 90
If you have known diabetes, the high-risk category for your blood pressure is slightly lower. Meaning your blood pressure should be 130 (the top number) and around low 80’s (the bottom number).
Your healthcare provider will consider your overall health and medical conditions before deciding on the right blood pressure level for you. One of the most important factors in High Blood Pressure is regularly checking your blood pressure at a local pharmacy, your doctor’s office or any Snore MD Sleep Apnea Clinic.
Snore MD Sleep Apnea Clinics are open 6-7 days a week to provide you with the education on both treating your high blood pressure or heart disease and managing your sleep. Get your blood pressure and breathing checked, stop by any Snore MD location to take our free at-home sleep test!
About the author:
Michael Davis is Snore MD’s Director of Optimal Patient Care and community awareness. Driven by a passion for quality of everyday life, Michael became a Respiratory Therapist in 2009 with the goal of helping Canadians sleep better. With experience in critical care medicine, sleep medicine and pulmonary disorders, Michael leads a team of 15 skilled Sleep Clinicians and Respiratory Therapists to help thousands of British Columbians Sleep Better – Live Better.
