Keeping Your High Blood Pressure in Check

Having high blood pressure doesn’t have to keep you from living a healthy, full life. In fact, keeping high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, in check can ensure you don’t raise your risk for certain conditions or diseases:

• Heart disease
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Eye problems

If you have high blood pressure or are at risk, Healthcare Highways Health Plan's preventative Care Coordination benefit is available to help you manage this. We encourage you to reach our to your Care Coordination team so you can focus on what matters most to you.

Below Are 5 Tips to Ensure Blood Pressure is in Check

1. Know Your Blood Pressure Numbers

It is important to keep a healthy blood pressure range. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Below is a chart detailing different blood pressure levels.

2. Measure Your Blood Pressure

Because high blood pressure and elevated blood pressure often don’t have symptoms, checking your blood pressure is the only way to know for sure whether it is too high. You can measure your blood pressure at home with a home blood pressure monitor, or you can visit your doctor or nurse to have your blood pressure checked.

If checking your blood pressure at home, below are some tips.

1. Use a cuff that fits your arm (example: adult, large, or extra large). Ask your doctor or nurse what size to use.
2. Rest for 5 minutes before you take your blood pressure.
3. If you smoke, drink alcohol, or exercise, wait 30 minutes before taking your blood pressure.
4. Sit with your back against a chair and both feet on the floor. Rest your arm on a table at heart level and uncross your legs.
5. Take your blood pressure 2 times a day at the same time for 7 days. Save your numbers on the machine or write them down and show them to your doctor or nurse.

3. Monitor and Decrease Salt Intake

Consuming less salt (labeled as sodium on food packages) can help lower blood pressure. Try to shoot for consuming less than 1500 mg of sodium daily. For reference, 1 teaspoon of salt is equivalent to 2300 mg of sodium! You can find out how much sodium you’re ingesting by looking at the food labels of the foods you eat.

4. Become an Expert on Taking Your Medicine

It is not uncommon to take multiple medications if you have high blood pressure. Follow your doctor’s or provider’s instructions carefully if you are taking medicine for high blood pressure. Always ask questions if you don’t understand something, and never stop taking your medicine without talking to your doctor first.

5. Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

1. Get regular physical activity   
2. Eat healthy foods       
3. Manage stress
4. Avoid smoking
5. Keep a healthy weight

Call for assistance.

If you need help finding a provider or have additional questions, contact our Customer Experience Advocates team and they will help you through the process!