How To Control Blood Pressure
There are many things you can do to manage your blood pressure. Healthy eating, physical activity, managing weight and stress, and taking your medications as prescribed can all help.
Healthy eating
With time, your taste buds will adjust to the natural flavours of food without added salt.
Talk to a registered dietitian to learn more about healthy eating.
| Vegetables and fruits more often | Limit processed, smoked and cured foods |
| Low-fat dairy products | Adding salt at the table and use a minimum amount in cooking |
| Legumes more often | Seasonings that contain the words salt or sodium, such as garlic salt, celery salt, Kosher salt, sea salt or monosodium glutamate |
| Whole grains, such as whole-wheat breads, cereal, pasta and brown rice | Limit frozen convenience foods and fast-food restaurant meals |
| Lean meats and poultry without added salt | |
| To flavour your foods with herbs, spices, fresh garlic, garlic powder, onion powder, lemon or vinegar instead of salt | |
| To eat fish at least twice a week | |
| Unsalted or no added salt items |
Physical activity
Build physical activity into your day. Regular physical activity can improve blood pressure and heart health. Aim for 150 minutes of physical activity per week.
Check with your health-care team about the exercise routine that is suitable for you. Both aerobic and resistance exercises are recommended for people with diabetes.
Be a non-smoker
Manage stress
Limit alcohol intake
Medication
Healthy And Unhealthy Blood Pressure Ranges
Learn whats considered normal, as recommended by the American Heart Association.
| SYSTOLIC mm Hg | and/or | DIASTOLIC mm Hg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| NORMAL | |||
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 1 | 130 139 | ||
| HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE STAGE 2 | 140 OR HIGHER | ||
| HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS | HIGHER THAN 180 | and/or | HIGHER THAN 120 |
Note: A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings.
Signs And Symptoms Of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure may not have any symptoms and so hypertension has been labeled “the silent killer.” Longstanding high blood pressure can lead to multiple complications including heart attack, kidney disease, or stroke.
Some people experience symptoms with their high blood pressure. These symptoms include:
- Headache
- The Feeling of pulsations in the neck or head
- Nausea
Recommended Reading: Onions And Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Facts
High blood pressure is serious because it can lead to major health problems. Make a point of learning what blood pressure should be. And, remember:
If your doctor asks you to take your blood pressure at home, keep in mind:
- There are many home blood pressure monitors for sale. Ask your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist which monitor you need and how to use it. Have your monitor checked at the doctor’s office to make sure it works correctly.
- Avoid smoking, exercise, and caffeine 30 minutes before checking your blood pressure.
- Make sure you are sitting with your feet uncrossed and on the floor, and that your back is resting against something.
- Relax quietly for five minutes before checking your blood pressure.
- Keep a list of your blood pressure numbers, what time you measured your blood pressure, and when you took your blood pressure medication . Share this information with your doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse.
What Is A Healthy Blood Pressure
2-minute read
When the heart is squeezing blood into the arteries, the pressure is high. When the heart is relaxed, the pressure is lower.
Your blood pressure is a measurement taken of the highest reading and the lowest reading . It is given as 2 figures highest over lowest or systolic over diastolic. Blood pressure is measured in mmHg, which refers to millimetres of mercury.
Your blood pressure varies from day to day, even moment to moment. Most doctors would say that a healthy blood pressure is higher than 90/60 mmHg but lower than about 140/90.
Don’t Miss: Does Cholesterol Raise Blood Pressure
Chart: What Are Normal Blood Pressure Ranges By Age For Women
As with men, women’s average BP ranges also vary by age group. The age group with the lowest normal blood pressure reading is different between the systolic and diastolic reading. Women ages 21-25 have the lowest normal diastolic reading , while women age 31-35 have the lowest normal systolic reading . The age group with the highest normal blood pressure reading is women ages 56-60 .
What Is The Average Blood Pressure For A 70 Year Old Man
There is an ongoing debate about how aggressively one should treat elevated high blood pressure in older adults, the fact that the pressure does not change with age and remains the same. For the healthy population, the blood pressure measurement is 120/80. While the top reading measures the systolic blood pressure, the bottom provides information about the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure reading calculates the pressure when the heart is pumping blood, and diastolic reading offers the stress when the heart is at rest. When the numbers are lower, it indicates that the individual has lower chances of heart attacks or stroke.
Also Check: Onion Blood Pressure
What Is The Ideal Blood Pressure For A 48
Blood pressure naturally increases with age. For a man in his forties to fifties, the ideal blood pressure depends on his health condition and the activities he was involved in prior to having a blood pressure reading. In general, the average man’s blood pressure is the lowest when he wakes up and the highest when he engages in physical activity.
The Blood Pressure Chart
Once you know your numbers, you can use the blood pressure chart to see what they mean and if your blood pressure is in the healthy range. The chart is suitable for adults of any age, as the cut-off point for diagnosing high blood pressure doesnt change with age.
How to use the blood pressure chart
Simply find your top number on the left side of the chart and your bottom number on the bottom. Where the two lines meet is your blood pressure.
Get ready for Christmas early with our range of beautiful cards, wrapping paper and gifts including personalised notebooks. Whether you’re looking for something traditional or modern, we’re sure you will find something you love. Shop now at Care Cards who will post the items on our behalf. 25% goes to fund our life-saving work.
Don’t Miss: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure
Whats A Normal Reading
For a normal reading, your blood pressure needs to show a top number thats between 90 and less than 120 and a bottom number thats between 60 and less than 80. The American Heart Association considers blood pressure to be within the normal range when both your systolic and diastolic numbers are in these ranges.
Blood pressure readings are expressed in millimeters of mercury. This unit is abbreviated as mm Hg. A normal reading would be any blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg and above 90/60 mm Hg in an adult.
If youre in the normal range, no medical intervention is needed. However, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle and healthy weight to help prevent hypertension from developing. Regular exercise and healthy eating can also help. You may need to be even more mindful of your lifestyle if hypertension runs in your family.
Can A Very Old Person Have High Blood Pressure
On top of that, as previewed in the introduction of this article, for very old and frail people , elevated blood pressure can be a good indicator. How do we explain this? Well, for a senior to have high blood pressure, their heart has to be relatively strong to pump the blood with such force.
The recommended blood pressure is about 120 / 80 but not above 140/90 For some people what might be classed as high bp in others is quite normal and healthy. So although some doctors may panic a bit at lower readings, others may not be too concerned. Theres some controversy! Well.am I not normal ? 1. Age 68 yrs male 2.
To achieve a normal blood pressure in men over 50 years, some form of mild sedative medicine may also be used. Apart from lifestyle changes and dietary alterations, it is also important to check and keep a record of your blood pressure readings. High blood pressure accelerates the processes of atherosclerosis within blood vessels.
You May Like: Does Spicy Food Cause High Blood Pressure
What Is A Blood Pressure Chart
The blood pressure chart is a way to document the readings a person has taken themselves. Because blood pressure fluctuates over the course of the day, the blood pressure chart is used to record both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, along with the date and time of the measurement. The pulse should also be recorded to provide additional information.
It allows self-monitoring of blood pressure and can help an attending doctor to better assess the values in the long term, improving the precision of the diagnosis.
How Older Adults Can Maintain A Healthy Blood Pressure
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure doesnt have to be complicated. Simple lifestyle changes can help:
- Exercise. National guidelines recommend adults of all ages engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. If mobility or health conditions are a problem, older adults should try to be as physically active as possible.
- Lose weight. If your loved one is overweight, every 2 pounds lost can help reduce blood pressure by 1 mm Hg.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet low in salt. The DASH diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry, fish and low-fat dairy foods. It was designed specifically to help lower blood pressure. Try to limit sodium to no more than 2,300 milligrams per day.
- Avoid drinking alcohol. Alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If your loved one chooses to drink alcoholic drinks, limit it to no more than one drink a day for women and up to two drinks a day for men.
- Dont smoke. Tobacco damages your artery walls. If your loved one smokes, ask their doctor how to help them quit.
- Manage stress. Try simple relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or meditation.
In some cases, diet and lifestyle changes are not enough to lower blood pressure. Your loved one may be having a difficult time achieving significant changes in their lifestyle, or their hypertension may be too severe to treat with diet and exercise alone.
Read Also: Omron Bp785 Calibration
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.
Normal And Abnormal Blood Pressure Levels For Men Over 50
If you are over 50, the recommendation of how far you should keep your blood pressure off is usually closely dependent on certain health conditions that you have.
According to an article published on the official site of the Department of Health and Human Services, the level of blood pressure that is higher than 140/90 mm Hg in men over 50 can be categorized into hypertension.
So, make sure to control the systolic and diastolic numbers lower than 140 /90! However, your doctor may ask you to keep your blood pressure much lower than 140 /90 if you have certain health problem. For more advice, talk with your doctor!
Update: New guidelines from most Health Organizations announced that 130/80 mm HG is now categorized into hypertension for all adults younger than age 65 . This suggests, there would be more men over 50 categorized as having hypertension.
Recommended Reading: Spicy Food High Blood Pressure
What Numbers Mean High Blood Pressure What Numbers Mean Normal Blood Pressure
Normal blood pressure is at or under 120 over 80.
In November 2017, blood pressure guidelines were modified. Any blood pressure measurement at or above 130 over 80 is now considered high. And thats what we in the medical community call hypertension. These numbers are down from the old recommendation of 140 over 90.
In the past, many people in the United States were considered prehypertension. The new recommendations get rid of that category, and now almost half of U.S. adults fall into the category of hypertension. That could seem shocking. But patients who are in this category should already be discussing their blood pressure numbers with their primary care doctor. If they arent, now is a good time to connect with their medical provider and come up with a plan for treatment.
What Is A Good Blood Pressure Reading For A 65 Year Old Man
The previous guidelines set the threshold at 140/90 mm Hg for people younger than age 65 and 150/80 mm Hg for those ages 65 and older. This means 70% to 79% of men ages 55 and older are now classified as having hypertension. That includes many men whose blood pressure had previously been considered healthy.
Recommended Reading: Do Onions Lower Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Categories
You can divide high blood pressure into five categories, according to guidelines from the American College of Cardiology:
- Normal: Normal blood pressure in adults is any blood pressure below 120/80.
- Elevated: In adults, elevated blood pressure is a systolic reading of 120-129 and a diastolic reading below 80.
- Hypertension stage I: This stage includes blood pressures ranges of 130-139 or 80-89 .
- Hypertension stage II: This stage includes blood pressures ranges above 140 or above 90 .
- Hypertensive crisis: Severely elevated blood pressure is defined as greater than 180 and/or 120 and associated with new or worsening organ damage.
Normal And Abnormal Levels Of Blood Pressure
The level of your blood pressure is commonly given in mm Hg. And you will find two numbers from a sphygmomanometer systolic and diastolic pressure.
Typically, systolic pressure is higher than diastolic pressure because it describes the pressure against your artery walls when your heart is beating. And for diastolic pressure, it is usually lower than your systolic number since it is the pressure from force of blood against the artery walls between beats of your heart .
The levels of blood pressure are commonly categorized into 4 major groups: normal, pre-hypertension, stage I and stage II hypertension. In general, the normal levels range from 115 /75 to 120 /80 mm Hg.
For in-depth information about these issues, visit this helpful guide!
Read Also: Does Vodka Raise Blood Pressure
What Does High Blood Pressure Feel Like
High blood pressure often doesn’t have any symptoms, so you usually don’t feel it.
Hypertension is usually diagnosed by a health care professional during a routine checkup. The average person should get a blood pressure reading at least once a year. As a cardiologist, I think its important for everyone to know their numbers. That means knowing what your blood pressure is. And it also means knowing your blood sugar level, cholesterol and body mass index. When you know your numbers, you can work with your doctor to make a plan to reduce any risks.
Blood pressure is even more important to pay attention to, though, if you have a close relative with hypertension or other risk factors. And know that if your blood pressure is extremely high, you may have unusually severe headaches, chest pain, difficulty breathing or get easily worn out by workouts. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away.
What Is The Normal Blood Pressure For A 90
Normal blood pressure for a healthy 90-year-old, assuming that there is no unknown illness or health complications, ranges around 120/80 mmHg, according to Blood Pressure UK. Blood pressure varies between individuals depending on level of fitness, diet, hydration and current medications.
The ideal blood pressure for any healthy adult is 120/80 or less, reports Mayo Clinic. This indicates good health of the cardiovascular system and low risk for conditions such as heart attack or stroke. Blood pressure ranging from 120 to 139 systolic over 80 to 89 diastolic signifies prehypertension, and lifestyle changes are beneficial to the patient in controlling these numbers.
Blood pressure between 140 to 159 over 90 to 99 is classified as hypertension stage one, explains Mayo Clinic, and it represents the need for medical consult and lifestyle changes in order to prevent poor medical outcomes. Finally, blood pressure of 160/100 or more is classified as hypertension stage two, and indicates a higher risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, as well as the need for medical management of the condition.
Also Check: How To Bring Blood Pressure Down Quickly
When To Call Your Doctor
A hypertensive crisisdefined as blood pressure above 180/120 mm Hgrequires immediate medical attention. Call 911 if you are also experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, back pain, shortness of breath, difficulty speaking, a change in vision, weakness, or numbness.
What Is Considered High Blood Pressure For Older Adults
Recent updates to guidelines from the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology changed the definition of high blood pressure or hypertension for most people. High blood pressure is now generally defined as 130 or higher for the first number, or 80 or higher for the second number . However, there are important considerations for older adults in deciding whether to start treatment for high blood pressure, including other health conditions and overall fitness. If your blood pressure is above 130/80, your doctor will evaluate your health to determine what treatment is needed to balance risks and benefits in your particular situation.
Recommended Reading: Does Cialis Raise Blood Pressure