Community Virtual Care Hypertension Workbook Reference Links

This page provides links to resources referred to in the paper version of the Community Virtual Care – Hypertension Workbook. To find out more about the program and how to register, please visit the Community Virtual Care page. 

Section 1 – Hypertension Basics?

  1. Read pages 2 and 3 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure. 
  2. Review the Hypertension Canada website.
  3. Watch this short video: What is high blood pressure?
  4. Learn about how high blood pressure affects your health.

Section 2 – Measuring Blood Pressure 

  1. Read pages 7 and 8 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure.
  2. Review Hypertension Canada’s “How do I monitor my blood pressure?”. 
  3. Read about selecting a proper blood pressure cuff. 
  4. Watch the "How to Measure Your Own Blood Pressure" video.

Section 3 – Your Numbers

  1. Read pages 3 and 4 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure. 
  2. Review “What is my blood pressure number and what does it mean?”. 
  3. Review “What is high blood pressure?” on the Heart and Stroke website. 
  4. Watch the “How High is Too High for Blood Pressure?” video (optional).

Section 4 – Blood Pressure Categories

  1. Read the “What should my blood pressure be?” section in Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure on page 4. 
  2. Review Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. 
  3. Review “What is blood pressure?” on the Heart and Stroke website.

Section 5 – Complications

  1. Read page 5 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure.
  2. Review the High Blood Pressure and your Kidneys website.
  3. Review “Why should I care about high blood pressure?”. 
  4. Watch this short video: “The Effects of High Blood Pressure“ (optional).

Section 6 – Nutrition

  1. Review pages 11 – 17 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure.
  2. Review Canada's Food Guide. 
  3. Read the first 3 sections of How do I maintain a healthy blood pressure? 
  4. Watch this video: “4 Heart-Healthy Changes to Lower Blood Pressure”.

Section 7 – Staying Active

  1. Review page 9 and/or 10 of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. 
  2. Read about Why You Should Be Physically Active. 
  3. Learn about How to make physical activity a way of life. 
  4. Review Canadian Heart & Stroke Foundation’s physical activity recommendations.

Section 8 – Medications

  1. Review pages 18 – 20 of Understanding and Managing Your Blood Pressure.
  2. Scroll down to the medicines section of the HealthLink BC website. 
  3. Watch this short video: Medicine for High Blood Pressure. 
  4. Read Tyrell's Story.

Section 9 – Alcohol and Smoking 

  1. Review Canada's Guidance on Alcohol and Health. 
  2. Visit the Help with drinking website. 
  3. Visit the Quit Now website for smoking cessation support (optional).
  4. Read the alcohol and smoking sections of Hypertension Canada.

Section 10 – Stress

  1. Read about Recognizing and Handling Stress on the Heart & Stroke website. 
  2. Learn more about stress management in this article. 
  3. Read about Managing stress to control hypertension. 
  4. Watch the "Stress 101 - Understanding Stress and How to Manage It" video.

Section 11 – Sleep

  1. Read about sleep on the Heart & Stroke Foundation website. 
  2. Review the article How to get a better night's sleep. 
  3. Read about the link between irregular sleep schedules and hypertension. 
  4. Learn about improving your sleep on the HealthLinkBC website.

Section 12 – When to Get Help 

  1. Find more information about a hypertensive emergency. 
  2. Read about when to get help on the HealthLink BC website. 
  3. Read about a hypertensive emergency on the HealthLink BC website.

Resources

  1. DASH Diet
  2. Food Sources of Sodium High Blood Pressure & Kidney Disease 
  3. Healthy Eating Guidelines for Lowering Sodium Intake 
  4. Hypertension Canada
  5. Hypertension Facts 
  6. Low-cost Cookbook 
  7. Managing Stress 
  8. Supporting Your Loved One with High Blood Pressure