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High Blood Pressure Normal Pulse Rate

Primary High Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: What’s the Difference and Why Should You Care

While the specific cause of primary high blood pressure remains unknown, there is compelling evidence to suggest that a number of risk factors increase your chances of developing the condition.

These risk factors include:

  • age – the risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you get older
  • a family history of high blood pressure – the condition seems to run in families
  • being of Afro-Caribbean or South Asian origin
  • high amount of salt in your diet
  • lack of exercise
  • excessive alcohol consumption

A number of health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease, have also been linked to an increase risk of developing primary high blood pressure.

Possible Causes Of Resistant Hypertension

Resistant hypertension may have one or more other underlying medical conditions. In addition to treating resistant hypertension with medications, doctors typically investigate secondary causes , such as:

  • Abnormalities in the hormones that control blood pressure.
  • The accumulation of artery-clogging plaque in blood vessels that nourish the kidneys, a condition called renal artery stenosis.
  • Sleep problems, such as the breath-holding type of snoring known as obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Obesity or heavy intake of alcohol or other substances that can interfere with blood pressure.

Issues With Heart Conduction

A low pulse can indicate if there is a problem with the hearts electrical conduction pathway. The heart can only beat appropriately if it has an electrical system that travels in a definite pattern. It might not work effectively if the electrical system is damaged or the heart is overstretched. And this can lead to a low pulse rate. Persistent high blood pressure can also significantly contribute to the harm of the electrical system, which can, in turn, lead to a low pulse rate. Other causes that can damage the hearts conduction include ageing, heavy alcohol or drug use, smoking, etc.

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Heart Attack And Heart Disease

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:

  • Chest pain, also called angina.
  • Heart attack, which happens when the blood supply to your heart is blocked and heart muscle begins to die without enough oxygen. The longer the blood flow is blocked, the greater the damage to the heart.
  • Heart failure, a condition that means your heart cant pump enough blood and oxygen to your other organs.

The Difference Between Blood Pressure And Heart Rate

Blood Pressure Heart Stroke Foundation South Africa

Blood pressure and heart rate are two different measurements. While they are frequently measured at the same time in the doctors office, they are distinctly different factors in heart health.

Blood pressure is the force exerted against the artery walls when blood pumps through the body, usually measured with two numbers. The top number measures the pressure as the heart beats and moves blood into the arteries. The bottom number measures the pressure as the heart relaxes between beats. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 is considered normal.

Heart rate, also called pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute. Heart rate can change based on activity level, age, medication, and other factors throughout life. For most adults, a resting heart rate of 50 to 100 beats per minute is considered normal. People who exercise regularly often have lower resting heart rates.

In some situations, such as periods of acute stress or danger, blood pressure and heart rate may both increase at the same time, but thats not always the case. Your heart rate can increase without any change occurring in your blood pressure. As your heart beats faster, healthy blood vessels will expand in size to allow increased blood flow, which helps your blood pressure remain relatively stable. This is often true during exercise, when your heart rate can increase substantially but your blood pressure may only change slightly.

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What Is The Difference Between Pulse Rate And Blood Pressure

Pulse rate and blood pressure are two different numbers that determine cardiovascular health.

Blood pressure refers to the pressure exerted by your blood on the walls of your blood vessels, whereas the pulse rate or heart rate determines the number of times your heart beats in a minute.

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a common clinical condition where your blood pressure is consistently too high.

Low blood pressure or hypotension is defined as the condition where your blood flows with very less pressure or force through your blood vessels.

A high pulse rate, medically known as tachycardia, is when your heart beats more than 100 times in a minute. It can vary among individuals based on several factors such as age and fitness levels.

A low resting pulse rate, medically referred to as bradycardia, is a condition where your beats beats less than 60 beats a minute. If the pulse rate is very slow and the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body, it can become a serious condition.

This table provides a simple comparison between pulse/heart rate and blood pressure.

Parameters of comparison
Consists of a single number Consists of two numbers: systolic and diastolic

Measuring Your Heart Rate

To avoid complications that arise due to low heart rate, you could regularly check your pulse rate on your own without having to visit a healthcare practitioner.

If you want to measure your heart rate accurately, you should measure the pulse when sitting or lying down. You should also ensure that you are completely calm and relaxed to avoid incorrect readings.

You can get your pulse reading from different body locations, most commonly at your wrist and the side of the neck .

When taking your heart rate, use two fingers to trace the pulse. Since it has a pulse of its own, do not use your thumb as it’s likely to cause inaccurate results. Once you locate the pulse, press very gently and carefully count the number of beats you feel for 60 seconds.

You could set a stopwatch or use your phone to get a more accurate time count. If the heartbeat count is below 60 beats per minute, you have bradycardia.

It is important to note that children and young people have a faster heart rate than adults. The average pulse rate for a baby is about 140 beats per minute, whereas teenagers and older children should have a standard resting heart rate of about 70 beats per minute.

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What Is A Low Pulse

The term low heart rate, or bradycardia, refers to a situation when the heart rate also called the pulse is lower than normal, or below 60 beats per minute.

A normal heart rate at rest is considered to be between 60-100 beats per minute. Keep in mind a low heart rate can be normal, depending on your activity and fitness level.

Blood pressure can be high despite a low heart rate. There are numerous causes of all these scenarios, but only some are serious and require medical intervention.

Monitoring And Treatment Of Resistant Hypertension

What the Pulse Pressure tells you

Reining in blood pressure levels begins with the basics, such as understanding your pressure patterns. Sometimes that means wearing a pager-sized automatic blood pressure recorder for 24 hours or checking pressure with an at-home monitor several times a day. Treatment also usually involves a change or addition of medications and investigation of secondary causes along with key lifestyle changes, including:

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Normal Blood Pressure But Pulse Over 100

Asked by amanda jarmey

Normal Blood Pressure But Pulse Over 100?

I have a normal blood pressure but a high pulse rate of over 100. Ive had dizzy spells and shortness of breath, plus swelling in my ankles. Everything was fine at my recent doctors appointment, but he did put me on beta blockers, telling me the high pulse rate was due to stress. The medication makes me tired and cause stomach issues, so I stopped taking them now the high pulse rate has returned, as have some of the previous symptoms and some new ones, including a fluttering sensation in my chest. What could be causing this?

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Stroke And Brain Problems

High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke. Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you.

Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Learn more about the link between high blood pressure and dementia from the National Institutes of Healths Mind Your Risks®external icon campaign.

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Categories Of Blood Pressure

According to guidelines from the American Heart Association, blood pressure is categorized into the following:

  • Normal: A BP reading of less than 120/80 mm Hg
  • Elevated: A consistent systolic reading of 120 to 129 and a diastolic reading below 80 mm Hg
  • Hypertension stage I: BP ranges from 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic
  • Hypertension stage II: BP ranges above 140 systolic or above 90 diastolic
  • Hypertensive crisis: BP readings suddenly exceed 180 and/or 120 mm Hg, associated with organ damage
  • Drink Alcohol In Moderation

    Pin on Blood Pressure

    Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol will increase your blood pressure and raise the cholesterol levels in your blood.

    Sticking to the recommended amounts of alcohol consumption is the best way to reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure.

    The recommended daily limits of alcohol consumption are:

    • 3 to 4 units of alcohol for men
    • 2 to 3 units of alcohol for women.

    A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager, a small glass of wine or a pub measure or spirits.

    More about drinking alcohol reponsibly

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    Which Number Is More Important

    Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over 50. In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term buildup of plaque and an increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.

    However, either an elevated systolic or an elevated diastolic blood pressure reading may be used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure. According to recent studies, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and stroke doubles with every 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic increase among people from age 40 to 89.

    Is Resting Heart Rate Different By Age

    For most of us , between 60 and 100 beats per minute is normal.1 The rate can be affected by factors like stress, anxiety, hormones, medication, and how physically active you are. An athlete or more active person may have a resting heart rate as low as 40 beats per minute. Now thats chill!

    When it comes to resting heart rate, lower is better. It usually means your heart muscle is in better condition and doesnt have to work as hard to maintain a steady beat. Studies have found that a higher resting heart rate is linked with lower physical fitness and higher blood pressure and body weight.2

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    The Different Blood Pressure Levels Are:

    • Normal: Less than 120 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
    • Elevated: 120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic
    • High Blood Pressure Stage 1:
    • 130-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic
  • High Blood Pressure Stage 2:
  • 140 or higher systolic or 90 or higher diastolic
  • Hypertensive Crisis: higher than 180 and/or higher than 120 diastolic
  • These simple changes can go a long way and are key factors in lowering your numbers.

    How Can I Control My Blood Pressure

    Vital Signs Nursing: Respiratory Rate, Pulse, Blood Pressure, Temperature, Pain, Oxygen

    You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your day-to-day habits and by taking medication if needed. Treatment, especially if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes, requires ongoing evaluation and discussions with your doctor.

    Lifestyle changes you can make to help prevent and lower high blood pressure:

    In addition to recommending lifestyle changes, your doctor will likely prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure to a safe level. Isolated systolic hypertension, the most common form of high blood pressure in older adults, is treated in the same way as regular high blood pressure but may require more than one type of blood pressure medication. You may try several kinds or combinations of medications before finding a plan that works best for you. Medication can control your blood pressure, but it can’t cure it. If your doctor starts you on medication for high blood pressure, you may need to take it long-term.

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    What Is A Dangerously Low Heart Rate

    A normal resting heart rate is between 60 and 100 beats per minute , and if it is below 60 BPM, it is considered a low heart rate.

    It is possible for a very fit person to have a resting heart rate that can be slower. But for most people, a heart rate below 50 BPM while awake, without any other obvious cause, is considered abnormal and should be investigated.

    One of the main symptoms of a dangerously low heart rate is feeling like you are very dizzy or will pass out. This feeling is due to less blood reaching your vital organs, most notably the brain.

    Without the right pulse rate or blood pressure, you may feel that you are about to faint or pass out, and you will likely feel fatigued.

    If your heart rate is dangerously low, the heart can also pause for a few seconds and may cause you to faint. This can lead to serious injury, especially if it happens suddenly.

    What’s The Impact Of Having High Blood Pressure

    High blood pressure is a major risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases such as:

    • coronary heart disease – where the main arteries that supply your heart become clogged up with plaques
    • strokes – a serious condition where the blood supply to your brain is interrupted
    • heart attacks – a serious condition where the blood supply to part of your heart is blocked

    Diabetes and kidney disease are also linked to high blood pressure complications.

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    Heart Rate Blood Pressure And Chronic Kidney Disease

    The issues of heart rate reduction and hypertension control are magnified in patients with CKD. Decreased renal function is associated with elevated heart rate, hypertension, and significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease . In patients with CKD, elevated heart rate is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease . Among 2,531 subjects in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study, estimated GFR was associated with central pulse pressure on bivariate analyses, but was not retained as a predictor of central pulse pressure in multivariate models . Treatment of patients with CKD with beta-blockade has been evaluated in one large study, the African American Study of Kidney Disease . In AASK, total GFR decline was slower in both ramipril and amlodipine compared to metoprolol . The primary composite of a decline in GFR, ESKD or death was reduced in the ramipril arm compared to the metoprolol and amlodipine arms. No difference was observed in rates of cardiovascular mortality or cardiovascular events . Further research in CKD patients is needed to evaluate the impact of heart rate lowering, preferably with newer vasodilatory beta-blockers, on renal and cardiovascular events in this high-risk population.

    Variations In Blood Pressure

    Resting heart rate chart by age, for women and men

    Your blood pressure changes to meet your bodys needs. If a reading is high, your doctor may measure your blood pressure again on several separate occasions to confirm the level.

    Your doctor may also recommend that you measure your blood pressure at home or have a 24-hour recording with a monitoring device.

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    When Should I Be Concerned About High Blood Pressure And A Low Pulse

    Its best to work with a healthcare professional to help monitor high blood pressure and low pulse.

    For most people, this means creating a care plan with your doctor if:

    • Your blood pressure is consistently higher than 130/80 mm Hg
    • Your pulse is consistently lower than 60 beats per minute
    • Your pulse is consistently higher than 100 beats per minute

    No matter your pulse, if your blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg, rest for five minutes and test again. If your blood pressure remains elevated but you dont have any other symptoms, contact your doctor.

    • Change in vision

    Why Does My Pulse Pressure Change When I Take My Blood Pressure A Few Minutes Apart

    Pulse pressure variation is normal and expected. When you breathe, your heart reflexively reacts by increasing how much blood it pumps. These variations in pulse pressure usually are very small, about five to 10 mmHg. If you do take your blood pressure more than once, add each pulse pressure amount together and divide by two to find the average*.

    Lets say you have two pulse pressures, taken five minutes apart, with the first being 42 and the second being 38. Youd calculate your pulse pressure using the following steps:

  • Add the two pulse pressures together. 42 + 38 = 80
  • Divide the total from step 1 by the number of times you took the measurement, in this case, twice. 80 / 2 = 40
  • The number you got in step 2 is average pulse pressure is 40.
  • *Note: If you do this, tell your doctor how many times you took your pressure to calculate this average and how long you waited between each measurement.

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