2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

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financialservices
insurance
aviva-medical-insurance
7801127
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# Blood pressure readings - medical insurance from Telegraph
## Ever had that '180 over 90' reading and wondered what it meant? Find out
what happens when you get key readings taken at the GP's surgery - and why
they're so important.
![Regular exercise is a great way to combat high blood pressure. ][1]
Regular exercise is a great way to combat high blood pressure.
4:59PM BST 03 Jun 2010
Having you blood pressure taken is a pain-free process, and it's something you
should do regularly. Your GP or practice nurse can do it in just a few
minutes, usually with a wrap-around cuff that fits around your upper arm.
The readings are given in millimetres of mercury - mmHG. Two measurements are
taken:
• Systolic pressure - this first reading finds out the pressure exerted when
your heart beats to push blood around the body.
• Diastolic pressure - this second reading shows the pressure while the heart
is at rest - between beats.
The readings are used to advise you whether your pressure is within normal
limits or if you need to take some action. Think of it as one factor to
consider along with other risks such as smoking habits, other illnesses, your
height and weight.
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High blood pressure
If your pressure is too high, it's known as 'hypertension' - and diet change,
more exercise or drugs may be needed to help lower it. Your GP will give you
the best advice.
**What does 'hypertension' mean? **
If your blood pressure is too high, it's called hypertension. It means that
your blood flow is putting abnormal pressure on your arteries and circulation.
This can increase the risk of developing heart disease or suffering a stroke.
It can also create problems for other organs the kidneys in particular.
**How can we reduce hypertension?**
Simple lifestyle changes can help you to reduce hypertension. Always check
with your GP before making changes to your normal diet or exercise plan.
• Get some regular exercise - try building up to 30 minutes a day, five times
a week.
• Control your alcohol intake - drink no more than the recommended amounts
(less than 21 units per week for men, less than 14 units per week for women).
• Eat a balanced, low-fat diet of healthy foods - include plenty of fruit and
vegetables.
• Cut down on salt - try to eat less than 6g (one teaspoon) a day.
• Limit your caffeine intake - aim for fewer than five cups of tea or coffee a
day.
• Relax - try some relaxation therapies or meditation.
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Telegraph
## [Medical Insurance with Aviva][13]
* ### [Sponsored »][14]
* ### [Offers »][15]
External Links
* ### [Aviva Medical Insurance][16]
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[![Aviva][18]][16]
## [Private medical Insurance »][19]
### [Call now][20]
[![][21]][20]
### [Health Insurance Company of the Year 2010][13]
[![][22]][13]
### [How to stop smoking - medical insurance from Telegraph][5]
[![Replacing cigarettes with healthy snacks can help you to quit smoking.
][23] ][5]
It's hard to give up cigarettes because the sensations caused by nicotine are
addictive. The good news is that, if you want to kick the habit, there's
plenty of help on offer.
### [Coping with stress][6]
[![Laughter is a great stress buster. ][24] ][6]
When you're worried, when you're under pressure - we call it stress. It's
usually associated with the physical or mental side-effects of busy lives, and
too much to worry about. But the truth is, a little bit of pressure can be
good for us - it keep us motivated, on our toes, and makes us work harder.
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[![Gil Scott-Heron][27]][26]
Composer, musician, poet and author whose writing provided a vivid commentary
on the black American experience.
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### [WS Gilbert: a knight for our times][30]
### [The Telegraph's Matt is Hay Festival star][31]
[1]: http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01649/aviva-
exercise_1649936c.jpg
[2]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800912/Private-
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[3]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800979/Aviva-
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[4]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7800995/Staying-
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[7]: /financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-insurance/7801065/Flu-
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[8]: #
[9]: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/4590190/Share-this-article-
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[10]: mailto:?subject=A Telegraph reader thought you would be interested in
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%0A%0Ahttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/financialservices/insurance/aviva-medical-
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