About this Resource
Blood pressure is a measure of the force the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. It is given in two separate figures, (1) systolic blood pressure, and (2) diastolic blood pressure. This handout breaks down what blood pressure is, how to categorise blood pressure readings, and highlights some lifestyle strategies for managing high blood pressure (hypertension).
Grounded in the Research
“Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is a major public health concern because it is the principal risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the leading contributor to worldwide mortality.”
Excerpt from: Gay, H. C., Rao, S. G., Vaccarino, V., & Ali, M. K. (2016). Effects of different dietary interventions on blood pressure: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension, 67(4), 733-739.
References
[1] Brzezinski WA. Blood Pressure. In: Walker HK, Hall WD, Hurst JW, editors. Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations. 3rd edition. Boston: Butterworths; 1990. Chapter 16. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK268/
[2] Ettehad, D., Emdin, C. A., Kiran, A., Anderson, S. G., Callender, T., Emberson, J., … & Rahimi, K. (2016). Blood pressure lowering for prevention of cardiovascular disease and death: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The Lancet, 387(10022), 957-967. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(15)01225-8
[3] Mills, K. T., Obst, K. M., Shen, W., Molina, S., Zhang, H. J., He, H., … & He, J. (2018). Comparative effectiveness of implementation strategies for blood pressure control in hypertensive patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 168(2), 110-120. https://doi.org/10.7326/M17-1805
[4] Gay, H. C., Rao, S. G., Vaccarino, V., & Ali, M. K. (2016). Effects of different dietary interventions on blood pressure: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension, 67(4), 733-739. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.115.06853
[5] Cornelissen, V. A., & Smart, N. A. (2013). Exercise training for blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of the American Heart Association, 2(1), e004473. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.112.004473
[6] Kelley, G. A., Kelley, K. S., & Tran, Z. V. (2001). Walking and resting blood pressure in adults: a meta-analysis. Preventive Medicine, 33(2), 120-127. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-7435(01)80008-6
[7] Neter, J. E., Stam, B. E., Kok, F. J., Grobbee, D. E., & Geleijnse, J. M. (2003). Influence of weight reduction on blood pressure: a meta- analysis of randomized controlled trials. Hypertension, 42(5), 878-884. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.HYP.0000094221.86888.AE
[8] He, F. J., Li, J., & MacGregor, G. A. (2013). Effect of longer term modest salt reduction on blood pressure: Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised trials. BMJ, 346. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f1325
[9] Peng, Y. G., Li, W., Wen, X. X., Li, Y., Hu, J. H., & Zhao, L. C. (2014). Effects of salt substitutes on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 100(6), 1448-1454. https://doi.org/10.3945/ajcn.114.089235
[10] Rainforth, M. V., Schneider, R. H., Nidich, S. I., Gaylord-King, C., Salerno, J. W., & Anderson, J. W. (2007). Stress reduction programs in patients with elevated blood pressure: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Current Hypertension Reports, 9(6), 520-528. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-007-0094-3