Health Resource in Action



English HD 2173 - Wallet Card about Blood Pressure and High Blood Pressure Risks

General audience

|PANELS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, FRONT PAGE |

|1st Panel: |

|WHAT DO MY BLOOD PRESSURE NUMBERS MEAN? |

|Two numbers are used to measure blood pressure. |

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|The top number is the pressure when your heart beats. |

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|The bottom number is the pressure when your heart is between beats. |

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|Having high blood pressure means that one or both numbers are above the normal range. When you have high blood pressure, it means your |

|heart is working harder than it should. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to heart attack and stroke. |

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|2nd Panel: |

|MY BLOOD PRESSURE DIARY |

|My blood pressure goal is:__________________ |

|Location (e.g. pharmacy name) |

|Date/Time |

|Blood Pressure |

|To track your blood pressure electronically, visit |

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|Cover |

|Start tracking your blood pressure today. |

|It just might save your life. |

|My Blood Pressure Wallet Card. |

|Massachusetts Department of Public Health |

|dph/bloodpressures |

|Adapted from the Justus-Warren Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Task Force and the Million Hearts® Initiative. |

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|PANELS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, INSIDE PAGE |

|1st Panel |

|HOW DO I REDUCE MY RISK? |

|Halt the salt. Eating too much salt — also called sodium — may raise your blood pressure. Compare food labels and choose the one with |

|less sodium. |

|Eat lean and green. Eat more vegetables, whole grains, salads, fruits, fish, chicken, turkey, and low-fat dairy products. Eat less red |

|meat. |

|Get moving. Even moderate activity makes your heart stronger. It also helps you handle stress, another cause of high blood pressures. |

|Quit smoking. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or visit . |

|Limit alcohol. Too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. |

|2nd Panel |

|QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR PHARMACIST IF YOU ARE TAKING MEDICINE |

|If you are taking high blood pressure medicine, ask your pharmacist: |

|What is my medicine called and what does it do? |

|How and when should I take it? And for how long? |

|What if I forget to take it? |

|Are there any side effects? |

|Is it safe to take with other medicines or vitamins? |

|Can I stop taking it if I feel better? |

|3rd Panel |

|How to Take your Blood Pressure with an Automatic Blood Pressure Machine |

|Take your blood pressure every day at the same time of day, such as in the morning and at night. |

|Don’t smoke, drink caffeinated beverages or exercise within 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. |

|Relax and sit with your arm slightly bent and resting comfortably on a table at the same level as your heart. |

|Place the cuff securely on your upper arm (about one inch above your elbow). |

|Follow the directions on the blood pressure machine to start the blood pressure reading. |

|Each time you take your blood pressure, do it two or three times, one minute apart, and write down the results. |

|Share all results with your healthcare professional. |

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