I am like 1 in 3 people I am living with High Blood Pressure. People who are at risk for the disease are women who use Birth Control Pills, people over 35, African Americans, Obese people, heavy drinkers, Diabetics, people with Kidney Disease and Gout.

Blood Pressure is the force of the blood on Arteries, (blood vessels which take the blood away from the heart to other parts of the body), when the heart is beating and when it is at rest; this is called the Systolic and Diastolic respectively. On a Blood Pressure Reading the Systolic is the top and the Diastolic is the bottom reading i.e. 120/80 My disease is controlled with medication but at one time it wasn't working so I made changes in my lifestyle by doing the following:

1. I Stopped Smoking

2. Exercised

3. Lost some weight

4. Began Eating more fruit and vegetables.

5. Replaced salt with non-salt spices like Mrs.Dash condiments

6. Watch the salt in processed foods by reading the Nutritional Label

7. Monitor my Blood Pressure with a machine at least 1 to 2 times a day.

These changes along with the medication dropped my Blood Pressure to normal levels. However I am wary of pills and prescriptions and believe that some physicans are merely legal drug pushers for the Pharmacutical Companies, even though my physician is ok. I also believe that if I lose more weight I won't have this disease anymore. Till that end i am eager to lose more. weight.

Blood Pressure Chart

Systolic Blood Pressure below 120 and diastolic blood pressure below 80 = Good BP

Systolic Blood Pressure below 130 and diastolic blood pressure below 85 = Normal BP

Systolic Blood Pressure below 140 and diastolic blood pressure below 90 = Normal systolic

Systolic Blood Pressure below 160 and diastolic blood pressure below 100 = Mild Hypertension

Systolic Blood Pressure below 180 and diastolic blood pressure below 110 = Moderate Hypertension

Systolic Blood Pressure above120 and diastolic blood pressure above 110 = Severe Hypertension/ High Blood Pressure