We all know someone with either high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or both. And we’ve all seen news stories on these conditions as well as ads for drugs that treat them. Because mention of them has become so commonplace, many people think that having high blood pressure or high cholesterol isn’t a big deal. It is. Even though two million new cases are diagnosed each year, high blood pressure, or hypertension, isn’t given the attention it deserves. In fact, many people don’t even know they have it. That’s why high blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” – because it has no warning signs.
But there’s no doubt that if left untreated, hypertension is a serious health risk. It will damage the heart, kidneys and blood arteries and may lead to heart attacks, kidney failure or strokes. About 700,000 people die each year from complications of uncontrolled blood pressure. But there’s good news as well. High blood pressure doesn’t have to be deadly or disabling. The condition is easy to detect. And among cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure is the most treatable. Unfortunately, 80 percent of people with high blood pressure also have high cholesterol. Because increases in cholesterol and blood pressure raise your risk of heart attack and stroke, you receive additional benefits when you lower your cholesterol levels as well as your blood pressure.
The health risks associated with high blood pressure and high cholesterol can be avoided through three simple steps:
- Know your numbers.
- Create a plan for controlling your numbers that includes diet, exercise and if you smoke,quitting.
- See your doctor regularly.
There are different ways to control blood pressure and cholesterol. The best strategy is to begin with lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes include eating a healthy diet, achieving a healthy weight, exercising, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol and caffeine, managing stress and getting plenty of sleep. If these activities don’t bring your blood pressure and cholesterol to normal levels, then your doctor may need to prescribe medication(s). There are many medications available to lower blood pressure and cholesterol. They work in different ways. Some patients may require more than one drug or higher doses for effective control. If you are prescribed blood pressure or cholesterol-lowering medication, it is important to take it as directed. But even if you take medication, lifestyle modifications are still an important part of managing your health. To help the members with high blood pressure and cholesterol levels live long and live well, HIP Pharmacy services has an ongoing outreach program in which we:
- Remind you to take your blood pressure and cholesterol medications regularly.
- Remind you to have prescriptions for these medications filled (if you have prescription drug coverage through HIP).
- Remind you to return to the doctor for follow-up after receiving a diagnosis of high blood pressure.
Remember: If you have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, taking your medications as directed is key to improving and maintaining your health. If you experience any difficulty, contact your doctor.
Blood Pressure*
- Normal Less than 120/80
- Borderline high Between 120/80 and
- 139/89
- High Greater than 140/90
Total Cholesterol**
- Desirable Less than 200
- Borderline high 200 to 239
- High 240 or higher
LDL (“bad”) Cholesterol**
- Optimal Less than 100
- Near optimal 100 to 129
- Borderline high 130 to 159
- High 160 to 189
- Very high190 or higher
HDL (“good”) Cholesterol**
- Low Less than 40
- High 60 or higher
Triglycerides**
- Normal Less than 150
- Borderline high 150 to 199
- High 200 to 499
- Very high 500 or higher
- Very high 190 or higher
What Do Your Numbers Mean?
After having your blood pressure measured or your cholesterol levels tested, check the charts below to see if you need to take corrective action. If so, ask your doctor whether lifestyle changes or medication(s) are right for you.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Institutes of Health. * Blood pressure numbers are expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Desirable ranges may vary, depending on individual health conditions. Check with your doctor. ** Cholesterol levels are expressed in milligrams of cholesterol per deciliter (mg/dL) of blood and apply to adults age 20 and older. LDL means lowdensity lipoprotein and HDL means high-density lipoprotein. HDL cholesterol helps keep bad cholesterol from building up in your arteries. So for HDL, higher numbers are better. But high numbers for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol or triglycerides may increase your risk of cardiovascular disease. Desirable ranges may vary, depending on individual health conditions. Check with your doctor.
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Controlling Blood Pressure and Cholestrerol Levels 