Test Your High Blood Pressure IQ

High blood pressure is the “key” risk factor for a heart attack – test your knowledge regarding this silent killer and get on the healthy road to maintenance and prevention!

Questions 1-10:
(See answers with explanations below)

1. Which of the following is the most desirable blood pressure reading?

2. The main cause of high blood pressure is:

3. Which of the following groups has the highest rate of high blood pressure?

4. A person with high blood pressure:

5. High blood pressure medication is usually prescribed to be taken:

6. Which of the following is more likely to contribute to your high blood pressure?

7. Major risk factors other than high blood pressure for heart disease and stroke include:

8. Which of the following may be dangerous for people with high blood pressure?

9. If you or a close blood relative has high blood pressure, you have a higher risk of stroke. Do you know which of these is a stroke warning sign?

10. I know my blood pressure numbers and what to do to keep my blood pressure in a healthy range.

1. d) Lower than 120/80 mm Hg is the most desirable reading in this list. The American Heart Association recommends this as optimal. 120–139/80–89 is considered prehypertension. Systolic blood pressure of 140 or higher or diastolic pressure of 90 or higher is considered high and should be evaluated by a physician immediately. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, you’re at high risk for stroke, heart attack and other complications from high blood pressure.

2. c) Unknown. In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown. In fact, you can have high blood pressure for years without knowing it. That's why it's called the “silent killer” — it creeps up on you. Even though doctors only rarely know what causes high blood pressure, you can take steps to control it and reduce your risk for stroke, heart disease and kidney disease. These steps include eating a low-salt, low-saturated-fat diet, getting 30–60 minutes of physical activity on most or all days and limiting your alcohol intake. If these lifestyle changes don’t get your blood pressure down to a normal level, your doctor may prescribe a blood-pressure-lowering medication.

3. b) African Americans. The rate of high blood pressure in African Americans in the United States is among the highest in the world. African Americans are at higher risk for this serious disease than whites and have higher prevalence rates than Mexican Americans and Asian/Pacific Islander adults. High blood pressure tends to be more common, happens at an earlier age, and is more severe for many African Americans. Consequently, they have a higher risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney complications from high blood pressure.

4. b) Has a high risk of stroke and heart attack. High blood pressure is the most important modifiable risk factor for stroke, the No. 3 killer and a leading cause of severe, long-term disability in the United States. High blood pressure is also a key risk factor for heart attack.

5. b) As a lifelong way to manage high blood pressure. Blood pressure medication is a way to manage high blood pressure and is taken every day — not just under certain “conditions.” High blood pressure is a lifelong disease. It can be controlled but not cured. If your doctor has prescribed medication for you, take it EXACTLY as prescribed for as long as the doctor tells you to take it. Decreasing dosage or not taking the medication at all is dangerous. If you change the dose or go off the medication, it won’t be effective and your blood pressure will rise, putting you at risk for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. Medication should be combined with lifestyle changes such as eating a low-saturated-fat, low-salt diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of physical activity (30–60 minutes on most or all days of the week) and not using tobacco products.

6. b) Salt/sodium intake. Some people are “salt sensitive,” so eating a lot of salt (sodium) adds to their high blood pressure. Salt holds excess fluid in your body and puts an added burden on your heart. Recent evidence suggests that salt sensitivity can also be a very important determinant of future high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk. Researchers have also found that having a particular gene may make African Americans much more salt sensitive, thus increasing their risk of developing high blood pressure. As little as one extra gram of salt (half a teaspoon) could raise blood pressure as much as five millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) in people who have this gene variant. It’s important to cut down on your sodium intake, and sodium is everywhere — in canned foods, baking soda, cheese, dried fruits and even medications.

7. d) All of the above. You can also include lack of physical activity, diabetes, increasing age, being African American and being male in the list. Risk factors for heart disease and stroke amplify one another rather than just adding up. The more risk factors you have, the higher your risk for heart disease and stroke.

8. c) Cold and flu medicines. People with high blood pressure should be aware of the possible danger of taking certain cold, cough and flu medications. Decongestants have been reported to increase blood pressure and may interfere with blood pressure medications. If you’re one of the 65 million Americans who has high blood pressure, make sure to choose cold and flu medications that don’t contain decongestants. Physical activity can be very effective for reducing blood pressure in overweight people. Blood pressure can fall significantly after only 12 weeks of either a 1,200-calorie diet or an hour a day of aerobic exercise. Recent studies show that aerobic physical activity by itself is more effective than diet alone for reducing weight and blood pressure.

9. f) All of the above. These are all warning signs of a stroke and not to be taken lightly. If you or someone around you is having these symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Stroke and heart attack are life-and-death emergencies — every second counts. Not all these signs occur in every stroke. Sometimes they go away and return. If any occur, get help fast! Today new medications may stop strokes and heart attacks in progress, but to be effective, these drugs must be given relatively quickly after symptoms first appear. So don’t delay — get help immediately if you’re having symptoms.

10. If your answer is True, then you’re eating a diet low in salt and saturated fat, getting 30 minutes of physical activity on most or all days of the week and limiting your alcohol intake to no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks per day for men. If you’ve been prescribed medication, then you’re taking it EXACTLY as the doctor recommended.

If your answer is False, have your blood pressure checked by a physician. If your numbers are 120/80 or higher, you need to start working to manage your blood pressure.