Ask the Physician
Frank Fish, MD, FACC
=
=
=
Attending Cardiologist, Cardiology Department at
Deborah Heart and Lung Center, answers your
question: =
= =
=
=
=
=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
Q: My doctor told me I am on the borderline for
high blood pressure, at 140 over 80. What do these
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
=
numbers mean, and what do I need to do to keep my blood
=
=
=
=
=
=
pressure under control?
=
=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
= =
=~Marc
= M., Ewing
=
= the
= = top blood
= = pressure
=
=
= = while
=
= heart
= is
A: Marc,
(systolic)
occurs
the
= = and ejecting
=
=
= the
= arteries; the bottom blood
contracting
blood
into
pressure
the heart= is =relaxing between =beats.
= (diastolic)
==
==occurs= = while
= ==
= =
= =
=
I start my patients
with
a
general
goal of=systolic
blood pressure
= = = = 130
=
= = = == = =
= =
= = ==
or less and a diastolic
80
The single most
= = == =blood
= =pressure
= or less.
=
=
= = = = ==
==
important thing
one
can do to
help
control high blood
pressure
=
=
=
=
=
= is
=
=
=
= =
=
= == =
to restrict =sodium intake to
less =than 2,500 mg
per= 24= hours.= =
=
=
=
=
= =
=
=
=
=
=
== =must
= = be very
One
to
= = diligent
==
= about =reading
= = labels.
= = = Say goodbye
= = =
salt shakers,
potato
chips,
popcorn,
salted
nuts
and
pretzels,
= =
= =
=
=
=
=
canned= soups, processed
foods
drinks. If your physician
= ==
= = and salty
=
=
= =
=
prescribes
it often
= = =an antihypertensive
= =
=
= = medication,
= = = = please
= = =realize
==
=
takes time= to=adjust= to a lower=– but
healthier
–
blood
pressure;
give
=
=
=
=
==
= == =
= == = =
=
your =body time
to
adjust.
If
perceived
side
effects
persist,
discuss
= = = = ==
= = = ==
=
=
= = ==
options
Alternative, more easily tolerated
= = with
= your =physician.
= =
=
=
=
medications are available.
=
== = =
==
=
= =
=
=
= = = =
=
= =
=
==
=
=
Contact Deborah’s scheduling department for an evaluation by calling
800-555-1990 or visiting www.demanddeborah.org, and watch “Meet
Dr. Fish” at www.demanddeborah.org/physician/fish-frank-h/.
www.njcopsmagazine.com
■
JULY 2016
73