Variations In Blood Pressure
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.
How Can I Be More Active
- Check first with your healthcare provider before increasing your physical activity. Ask your provider what type and amount of exercise is right for you.
- Choose aerobic activities such as walking, biking or swimming.
- Start slowly and increase activity gradually. Aim for a regular routine of activity five times a week for 30 to 45 minutes each session.
What Is Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force applied by the blood to the inner walls of the arteries. It shows minor fluctuations throughout the daydeclining while relaxing and momentarily increasing while being excited or under stress. An increase in the resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.
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Which Number Matters More
The answer is both. Years ago, doctors focused more on the bottom number, but it is now understood that the top number is just as important.
Both numbers can define high blood pressure and the need for treatment, Baker said.
A normal reading is less than 120 over 80. Readings above that are now considered elevated or high. The new guidelines, which were announced last November and are based on years of data, now mean that many more Americans are categorized as having high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is not a disease by itself, but its a risk factor for things like heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and more, Baker said. The new guidelines dont necessarily mean that many more people have to be on medication. They just mean a very large number of people need to be aware they have elevated or high blood pressure and need to do something about it.
Why Should I Monitor My Blood Pressure At Home
Even if your doctor takes your blood pressure in the clinic, monitoring your blood pressure at home can be useful whether or not you have hypertension.
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It can tell you if your blood pressure is changing over time, which is important because your risk for hypertension increases as you age.
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It can come in handy while youre exercising, and tell you if youre exercising at a healthy and safe intensity level.
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If your doctor suspects that you have hypertension, it can give them a better sense of what your blood pressure is like on a normal basis.
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If you have hypertension, it can help your doctor see if your treatment plan is working. Current guidelines recommend that patients with hypertension aim for a blood pressure lower than 130/80 mmHg, with the help of lifestyle changes and medications.
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If you take blood pressure medications, it can be especially helpful if you experience symptoms like headaches or dizziness. Low blood pressure readings during those times can alert your doctor to adjust the dose of your medication or give you a different drug to try. No matter what, do not change how youre taking your medications without talking to your doctor. Call your doctor immediately if you find that your blood pressure is too high or too low, or if you experience symptoms like headaches, dizziness, or fainting.
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Why Both Numbers Are Important
Your blood pressure reading is composed of two numbers . Systolic blood pressure, or the top number, is the amount of force put on the arteries as the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure is the amount of force on the arteries when the heart is resting.
This article delves into the differences between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, why both numbers are important, and what your blood pressure readings mean.
How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed
High blood pressure is diagnosed with a blood pressure monitor. This is a common test for all doctor visits. A nurse will place a band around your arm. The band is attached to a small pump and a meter. He or she will squeeze the pump. It will feel tight around your arm. Then he or she will stop and watch the meter. This provides the nurse with 2 numbers that make up your blood pressure. The top number is your systolic reading . The bottom number is your diastolic reading . You may also hear the doctor or nurse say a blood pressure is 120 over 80.
- Normal blood pressure is less than 120 on top and less than 80 on the bottom.
- Prehypertension levels are 120-139 on top and 80-89 on the bottom.
- High blood pressure, stage 1 is 140-159 on top and 90-99 on the bottom.
- High blood pressure, stage 2 is 160 or higher on top and 100 and over on the bottom.
The higher your blood pressure is, the more often you need to have it checked. After age 18, have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years. Do it more often if you have had high blood pressure in the past.
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Improving Blood Pressure Reading Accuracy
Your systolic and diastolic pressuresthe highest and lowest points of your heartbeatchange depending on your activity level, stress, fluid intake, and other factors.
You need to do your best to limit how these other factors might change your pressure when you’re taking a blood pressure reading.
For the most accurate reading, check your blood pressure when you are in a calm, warm space after you have been able to rest quietly for at least five minutes.
You should be relaxed, with your arms at your sides, and the cuff should be placed on your arm at about the level of your heart. Your legs should be uncrossed, and your bladder should be empty, as both of these factors can affect your reading.
Measuring blood pressure this way is a challenge in a busy provider’s office. Your provider might suggest you take your blood pressure at home.
Have Your Blood Pressure Measured Regularly
Have your blood pressure measured regularly and know what your blood pressure is. Remember that both numbers are important. If either the systolic or diastolic number is high , then your doctor will need to further check your blood pressure. A blood pressure measurement of less than 120/80 mmHg is very good unless it causes dizziness.
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High Blood Pressure And Daily Activity
Check with your doctor before starting a new activity or increasing your level or intensity. Be active safely. Build up your levels of activity gradually.
Try to do at least 30 to 45 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, if not all, days of the week. This can be done in bouts of 10 minutes or longer, if that is more convenient.
Physical activity is any form of bodily movement performed by our large muscle groups. Moderate-intensity physical activity , such as brisk walking or cycling, is enough to provide health benefits.
Walking is a great activity for all ages. You may like to join one of the Heart Foundations community walking groups.
Some types of exercises, such as body presses and lifting heavy weights, can raise your blood pressure. Avoid these if you have high blood pressure.
What Does It Mean When The Bottom Number Of Your Blood Pressure Is Over 100
When the bottom number of blood pressure is over 100 mmHg, it may be called diastolic hypertension . The normal range of diastolic pressure should be 60 to 80 mmHg in adults. Anything above this is considered abnormal . However, when blood pressure readings are above 180/120 mmHg, they are dangerous and require immediate medical attention.
Causes of DHT
DHT is most commonly associated with
- Increased body mass index
- Increased glucose level
- Certain factors such as the male gender may put you at a slightly higher risk.
Treatment options for DHT
- Because the risk of cardiovascular events is low in young people, no treatment is required. However, treatment in elderly people should be individualized in such a way that the underlying cardiovascular disease is addressed and the target DBP does not fall below 70 mmHg.
- Lifestyle measures and weight loss must be initiated.
- A study on DHT reported that calcium channel blockers are frequently used with success. Other drugs of choice are angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, and diuretics.
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Heart Rate And Exercise
In discussions about high blood pressure, you will often see heart rate mentioned in relation to exercise. Your target heart rate is based on age and can help you monitor the intensity of your exercise.
- If you measure your heart rate before, during and after physical activity, youll notice it will increase over the course of the exercise.
- The greater the intensity of the exercise, the more your heart rate will increase.
- When you stop exercising, your heart rate does not immediately return to your normal heart rate.
- The more fit you are, the sooner your heart rate will return to normal.
How Long Does It Take For Blood Pressure Medication To Lower
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What Can I Expect If I Have This Condition
Since high blood pressure doesnt cause many symptoms at first, you probably wont feel any different with a high blood pressure diagnosis. But its important to follow your providers instructions to bring your blood pressure down so it doesnt cause serious illnesses later in life.
How long does high blood pressure last?
If you have primary high blood pressure, youll need to control it for the rest of your life.
If you have secondary high blood pressure, your blood pressure will most likely come down after you receive treatment for the medical problem that caused it. If a medication caused your high blood pressure, switching to a different medicine may lower your blood pressure.
What is the outlook for high blood pressure?
You can get seriously ill if you dont treat your high blood pressure. However, if you take the medicines your provider ordered, you can control your blood pressure. Exercising and eating healthy foods also helps lower your blood pressure.
What Causes High Systolic Blood Pressure
When you have normal diastolic blood pressure, but your systolic blood pressure is high, it’s called isolated systolic hypertension. The American College of Cardiology states that isolated systolic hypertension can increase the risk of heart disease and even death in young adults.
Certain medical disorders can cause you to develop isolated systolic hypertension. These disorders can frequently cause effects on the circulatory system, damaging blood vessels or contributing to the stiffening of arteries.
These disorders include:
Anemia
When your red blood cells don’t function properly, or you don’t have enough of them to deliver oxygen to your tissues, it can result in anemia. This can cause blood vessel damage as your heart works even harder to pump blood to your body’s tissues to deliver enough oxygen.
Hyperthyroidism
Hyperthyroidism occurs when a person has an overactive thyroid, which is caused by an excess of thyroid hormones produced by your thyroid gland. This excess of thyroid hormone can affect virtually every internal organ, including your circulatory system and heart.
Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when you have high amounts of glucose in your blood. Over time, these high levels of glucose can cause numerous issues, including problems with your circulatory system and heart.
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Walk 30 Minutes A Day
How to lower bottom number of blood pressure. Colds and coughs stomach symptoms bladder infections. There also include some foods and drinks which lower the blood pressure immediately. Eat well lots of fruits veggies 100 percent whole grains.
Lori Rice is a freelance health and travel writer. For example a reading of 11070. Discover exercises good for lowering blood pressure along with other lifestyle changes and medications to prevent high blood pressure.
Losing a little bit of weight can help a lot in lowering your blood pressure. Lower Blood Pressure Naturally Tea 10212014 After 12 weeks of drinking. A person should avoid adding salt to foods and should steer clear of.
One or two pieces of garlic rolled in raisin can also help to lower your diastolic blood pressure naturally. Overtreatment of high blood pressure can be managed by adjusting or changing medications. Regular physical activity such as 150 minutes a week or about 30 minutes most days of the week can lower your blood pressure by about 5.
This should help to lower blood pressure and improve the function of veins and arteries. Sleep eight hours a night. The more water you drink the more fluids leave the blood vessel causing your vessels to relax and your blood pressure to reduce.
The bottom line for patients Watson said is that they should care about both blood pressure numbers. In her experience she noted patients often point to the. The goal is to keep the diastolic blood pressure between 60 and 90 mm Hg.
Causes Of Hypertension In Children
1. Primary hypertension
Primary hypertension means that the hypertension does not seem to be caused by some other underlyng medical condition. Many doctors think that the incidence of childhood or adolescent hypertension has been rising along with the obesity epidemic. The majority of teens and children over age 6 with hypertension have a family history of hypertension and/or are overweight.
2. Secondary hypertension
Secondary hypertension is caused by a known underlying medical condition. Of these, about
- 80 percent of children have some kind of kidney disease or blood vessel abnormalities
- 5 percent have an endocrinological disorder
- 2 to 5 percent have heart disease
Hypertension in infants with hypertension almost always has a secondary cause. In addition, premature infants have a higher incidence of hypertension.
Among kids with hypertension, especially those who are very young, secondary hypertension is more common than primary hypertension. But among children who are older than 6 to 8 years old, the ratio of primary to secondary hypertension is approaching 50/50.
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Why Your Blood Pressure Matters
When the heart beats, blood pulses through the arteries to travel throughout the body. However, it is not a steady stream like you might see from a garden hose.
The pulse of the blood flow and the pressure it exerts change from moment to moment. It’s highest during the heartbeat and lowest between heartbeats .
Providers measure blood pressure using these numbers because it is a standard way of describing the force of the pulsing blood.
Your systolic and diastolic blood pressures are both important. If the readings are too high, you could have high blood pressure. If the readings are too low, there may not be enough blood flowing to your brain and other organs.
Furthermore, if there are changes in the difference between the two numbers, it’s a clue that there could be a heart condition or other health problem.
Diagnosing High Or Low Blood Pressure
Only one of your numbers needs to be higher than it should be to be diagnosed with high blood pressure, and only one needs to be lower than it should be to be diagnosed with low blood pressure.
So if your top number is over 140 or the bottom number is over 90, you may be diagnosed with high blood pressure, regardless of the other number. If your top number is under 90 or your bottom number is under 60, you may be diagnosed with low blood pressure. Use the chart to see where your numbers sit.
If your top number is consistently higher than 140mmHg, but the bottom number is healthy this is known as Isolated Systolic Hypertension. If the bottom number is consistently higher than 90mmHg but the top number is healthy this is known as Isolated Diastolic Hypertension.
Making sure your readings arent a one-off
A single high reading doesnt necessarily mean you have high blood pressure, as many things can affect your blood pressure throughout the day, such as the temperature, when you last ate, and if youre feeling stressed.
Your doctor or nurse will probably want to measure your blood pressure a number of times over a few weeks to make sure the reading wasnt just a one off and that your blood pressure stays high over time.
Read about how high blood pressure is diagnosed, getting a blood pressure check, the further tests you might have if you have a high blood pressure reading, and what it means if youre diagnosed with high blood pressure.
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