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What Does My Blood Pressure Mean

What About Blood Pressure Thats Too Low

What do the numbers of my blood pressure reading mean, and how can I control heart disease?

Low blood pressure is known as hypotension. In adults, a blood pressure reading of 90/60 mm Hg or below is often considered hypotension.

Hypotension can be dangerous because blood pressure thats too low doesnt supply your body and heart with enough oxygenated blood.

Some potential causes of hypotension can include:

  • heart problems

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.

High Systolic Blood Pressure Stage 1

A high systolic blood pressure stage 1 reading is when systolic blood pressure is between 130-139 mmHg, regardless of the diastolic number 3.

Doctors will recommend lifestyle changes and may consider prescribing medicine based on the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Systolic is just one of over ten topics in my article, What Is The Blood Pressure Chart? All Five BP Categories. Check it out and find out why the elevated pressure range is a major concern moving forward.

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You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension

Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.

While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.

A study published in the journal Hypertension found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.

Treating High Blood Pressure

What do my numbers mean? Blood pressure readings explained ...

Treatment for high blood pressure will depend on your blood pressure levels and your associated risk of developing a cardiovascular disease, such as a heart attack or stroke.

There are seven main risk factors for developing a cardiovascular disease. These are:

  • age
  • smoking
  • obesity
  • having a high level of cholesterol in your blood
  • having a family history of cardiovascular disease .

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What Does My Blood Pressure Reading Mean

The information below and in the related links is designed to help you understand what your latest blood pressure readings may mean for your health. However, this isnt a substitute for medical advice, particularly since a number of personal factors may influence your blood pressure. Please discuss your blood pressure concerns with your doctor or medical practitioner.

What Is High Blood Pressure What Is Normal Blood Pressure

  • High blood pressure is defined as high pressure in the arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
  • Blood pressure readings are given as two numbers:
  • The systolic blood pressure equals the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts.
  • The diastolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries as the heart relaxes.
  • Normal blood pressure is below 120/80.
  • In 2017, the American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure.
  • Blood pressure between 120/80 and 129/80 is elevated blood pressure, and a blood pressure of 130/80 or above is considered high.
  • The American Academy of Cardiology defines blood pressure ranges as:
  • Hypertension stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89 mm Hg, and hypertension stage 2 is 140 or higher, or 90 mm Hg or higher.
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    What Do Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

    Blood pressure readings are composed of two numbersfor example, 120/80 mm Hg.

    The top number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number measures the pressure in your arteries between each heart beat.

    The standard unit of measure, mm Hg, stands for “millimeters of mercury.” Mercury pressure gauges have been replaced with electronic pressure gauges, but the abbreviation is still used.

    Does Walking Decrease Blood Pressure

    Diastolic Blood Pressure |What Is Diastolic Blood Pressure & What The BP Numbers Mean | Diastolic

    Ten minutes of brisk or moderate walking three times a dayExercise lowers blood pressure by reducing blood vessel stiffness so blood can flow more easily. The effects of exercise are most noticeable during and immediately after a workout. Lowered blood pressure can be most significant right after you work out.

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    Its Not Only Your Diet That Affects Your Blood Pressure Its Your Lifestyle Overall

    How active you are, whether you smoke and how much alcohol you drink, for example, all make a big difference. In this section, we look at what affects your blood pressure and the best things you can do to lower your blood pressure naturally.

    The best part is, all these changes will work together to keep your heart and your body healthy.

    See if what you drink is within the recommended guidelines and find out how many units your favourite drinks contain its often more than you think.

    Being overweight can raise your blood pressure and put extra strain on your heart. By keeping to a healthy weight, you can look after your blood pressure and your heart.

    Exercise can keep you healthy, but it doesnt have to mean running marathons. See how you can be more active and keep it going in the long term.

    Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do for your blood pressure and your overall health. Find out about the benefits and who can help.

    Think your high blood pressure is all down to stress? See what the science shows.

    Did you know that the amount of sleep you have can affect your blood pressure?

    There are lots of simple changes you can make to what you eat to lower your blood pressure, such as eating more fruit and veg and choosing foods low in salt.

    Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure More May Cut Health Risks

    One major study found that lowering systolic blood pressure to well below the commonly recommended level also greatly lowered the number of cardiovascular events and deaths among people at least 50 years old with high blood pressure.

    When study participants achieved a systolic blood pressure target of 120 mmHg compared to the higher target of 140 mmHg recommended for most people, and 150 for people over 60 issues such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure were reduced by almost one-third, and the risk of death by almost one-fourth.

    “That’s important information, because more lives may be saved and more deaths may be prevented if we maintain lower blood pressure in certain patients,” says Lynne Braun, NP, PhD, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Heart Center for Women.

    Braun cautions, however, that your personal blood pressure target depends on a variety of things, including your current blood pressure, lifestyle, risk factors, other medications you are taking and your age. “Every person has to be evaluated as an individual,” she says. “Realistically, we can’t get everybody down to 120, and trying to do so may create unintended problems.”

    It can be dangerous, for instance, to keep an older person on medications that have unsafe side effects, such as diuretics , which can cause dehydration and dizziness in older adults.

    And there can be other issues involved with taking multiple medications, such as cost and compliance.

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    High Blood Pressure Chart

    • congenital conditions, such as Cushings syndrome, acromegaly, or pheochromocytoma

    Sometimes, there is no apparent cause. In this case, a doctor will diagnose primary hypertension.

    Consuming a high fat diet, carrying excess weight, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking tobacco, and the use of some medications also increase the risk.

    Treatment will depend on several factors, including:

    • how high the blood pressure is
    • the risk of cardiovascular disease or a stroke

    The doctor will recommend different treatments as blood pressure increases. For slightly high blood pressure, they may suggest making lifestyle changes and monitoring the blood pressure.

    If blood pressure is high, they will recommend medication. The options may change over time, according to how severe the hypertension is and whether complications arise, such as kidney disease. Some people may need a combination of several different medications.

    How Is Blood Pressure Measured

    3 Reasons You Really Need to Know Your Blood Pressure ...

    Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury using a simple machine. When you have it measured it will be written as two numbers, a top number and a bottom number. For example, if your reading is 120/80mmHg, your blood pressure is 120 over 80.

    Find out more about and if yours is in the healthy range.

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    Everyone Has Blood Pressure Our Blood Pressure Is Simply The Amount Of Work That Our Hearts Have To Do To Pump Our Blood Around The Body

    What is blood pressure, exactly?

    High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. If its not treated or kept under control, it is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. Treatment and detection is very possible but it starts with you.

    Blood pressure is measured by two numbers

    The first number records blood pressure when the pressure is at its highest i.e. when the heart muscle squeezes out the blood this is called systolic pressure.

    The second number is when the heart relaxes and allows the blood to flow back into the heart this is called diastolic pressure.

    Whats the normal level?

    The normal level of blood pressure is usually about 120 over 80 . If your blood pressure is 140 over 90 or higher you should discuss this reading with your doctor.

    Why is blood pressure important

    The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of heart attack or stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and poor circulation in your legs. These problems can be avoided if your blood pressure is controlled.

    Over half of all adults in Ireland over 45 years of age have high blood pressure. About 4 in every 5 men and 2 in every 3 women with high blood pressure are not being treated. Keep reading and well help change that.

    If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, it means your blood pressure is consistently higher than it should be. Thankfully, there are several ways to help reduce it which we will talk you through below.

    Are there any signs or causes?

    High Diastolic Blood Pressure Consequences

    You may have noticed the diastolic pressure has been high more often than normal. A frequent question to ask is, should I worry if my diastolic is high?

    Having a consistent high diastolic number is a concern. High diastolic pressure increases the risk of developing high systolic blood pressure as a person ages. Higher diastolic pressure increases the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and stroke.

    High diastolic pressure alone may be used to determine a diagnosis of high blood pressure.

    Previous studies of more than one million people have shown increased risks with higher diastolic numbers. The results involved individuals aged 40 to 89 years. For every 10 mmHg increase in diastolic pressure, the risk of mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke doubled 10.

    In addition, the Framingham Heart Study examined 6,859 people who were initially free of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. They compared people with blood pressure between 130-139/85-89 mmHg to people with less than 120/80 mmHg.

    The individuals with higher systolic and diastolic pressure doubled their risk of cardiovascular disease 11.

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    When Should You Get Help For An Abnormal Blood Pressure Reading

    One high or low blood pressure reading by itself may not mean you need to call for help. If you take your blood pressure and it is out of the normal range, wait a few minutes and take it again. If it’s still high or low, use the following guidance.

    911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:

    • You passed out .

    or seek immediate medical care if:

    • Your blood pressure is much higher than normal .
    • You think high blood pressure is causing symptoms such as:
    • Severe headache.

    Taking Your Pulse Versus Checking Your Blood Pressure

    Your Blood Pressure Numbers Explained | What Your Blood Pressure REALLY Means

    While both are indications of health, blood pressure and heart rate are two separate measurements. Learn more about the difference between blood pressure and heart rate.

    Systolic is less than 120 and my diastolic is less than 80

    Great job! Your blood pressure is normal. To keep your readings in this range, stick with heart-healthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.

    Systolic is 120 129 and my diastolic is less than 80

    The good news is that you dont have high blood pressure. However, your numbers fall within the Elevated category, making you more likely to develop high blood pressure unless you take action to control it. Ready to make some small changes that have big impacts? Healthy lifestyle choices are a great place to start.

    Systolic is 130 139 or my diastolic is 80 89

    You are in the first stage of hypertension, but there are actions you can take to get your blood pressure under control. Your doctor will speak to you about small changes that can make a big difference and other BP Raisers. In addition, monitoring blood pressure outside of the doctors office is important for BP control.

    Systolic is 140 or higher or my diastolic is 90 or higher

    Systolic is higher than 180 and/or my diastolic is higher than 120

    Written by American Heart Association editorial staff and reviewed by science and medicine advisers. See our editorial policies and staff.

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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.

    Why Is High Blood Pressure A Problem

    High blood pressure puts an extra strain on your heart and blood vessels, which can damage them and make them weaker. Over time, this can lead to including heart attacks, heart failure, stroke, some forms of dementia, kidney disease and peripheral arterial disease.

    If you have as well as high blood pressure, such as diabetes or high cholesterol, this makes serious health problems in the future more likely, making it more important to take steps to .

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    Intensive Dental Treatment After Stroke Tia Does Not Impact Vascular Eventsyour Browser Indicates If You’ve Visited This Link

    Researchers randomly assigned 138 participants (mean age, 59 years 91% men … secondary measures were headed in the hypothesized direction specifically, diastolicbloodpressure and HDL cholesterol showed some significant changes.”

    Healio

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    Lack Of Physical Activity

    Manage Your High Blood Pressure

    A sedentary lifestyle can contribute to several health issues, including high blood pressure.

    According to the AHA , physical activity can help a person lower their blood pressure. It can also improve their heart health and reduce their weight.

    The AHA recommend 150 minutes a week of moderate-to-intense physical activity, such as walking briskly, running, or bicycling.

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    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.

    Which Blood Pressure Number Is More Important

    The systolic blood pressure reflects the pressure over the heart, whereas the diastolic blood pressure reflects the status of the blood pressure. Though both readings are important, many doctors believe that systolic blood pressure is a better predictor of complications of hypertension, such as heart disease or stroke.

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