What is Blood Pressure ?
Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood inside your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into arteries that carry blood throughout your body. This happens 60 to 100 times a minute, 24 hours a day. Arteries deliver oxygen and nutrients to your whole body so it can function.
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is when the pressure in your blood vessels is too high (140/90 mmHg or higher). It is common but can be serious if not treated.
People with high blood pressure may not feel symptoms. The only way to know is to get your blood pressure checked.
Blood pressure vs. heart rate
Both of these have to do with your heart, but they’re two different things. Blood pressure is how powerfully your blood travels through your blood vessels. Heart rate is the number of times your heart beats in one minute.
An increase in heart rate doesn’t mean your blood pressure is going up, too. The only way to know your blood pressure is to measure it with a blood pressure cuff and gauge.
What is normal blood pressure?
Normal blood pressure is <120/<80 millimeters of mercury.
Elevated blood pressure is 120-129/<80 millimeters of mercury. People with blood pressure readings in this category can develop worse blood pressure if they don’t do something to improve it.
What blood pressure is too high?
If your top number is ever 180 or higher and/or your bottom number is ever 120 or higher, get emergency medical treatment or have someone take you to the hospital right away. This is a hypertensive crisis.
Higher blood pressure ranges mean you may have stage 1 or 2 hypertension (high blood pressure).
Stage 1 hypertension is 130-139 (top number) or 80-89 (bottom number).
Stage 2 hypertension is 140 or higher (top number) or 90 or higher (bottom number).
When your blood pressure readings are in stage 1 or stage 2, your provider will ask you to make lifestyle changes and take blood pressure medicine.
Symptoms :
Most people with high blood pressure will not experience any symptoms, which is why people often call hypertension the “silent killer.”
However, once blood pressure reaches about 180/120 mm Hg, it becomes a hypertensive crisis, which constitutes a medical emergency.
At this stage, a person may have:
- a headache
- nausea
- vomiting
- dizziness
- blurred or double vision
- heart palpitations
- breathlessness
Anybody who experiences these symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Treatment :
Lifestyle changes can help lower high blood pressure. These include:
- eating a healthy, low-salt diet
- losing weight
- being physically active
- quitting tobacco
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may recommend one or more medicines. Your recommended blood pressure goal may depend on what other health conditions you have.
Blood pressure goal is less than 130/80 if you have:
- cardiovascular disease (heart disease or stroke)
- diabetes (high blood sugar)
- chronic kidney disease
- high risk for cardiovascular disease
For most people, the goal is to have a blood pressure less than 140/90.
There are several common blood pressure medicines:
- ACE inhibitors including enalapril and lisinopril relax blood vessels and prevent kidney damage.
- Angiotensin-2 receptor blockers (ARBs) including losartan and telmisartan relax blood vessels and prevent kidney damage.
- Calcium channel blockers including amlodipine and felodipine relax blood vessels.
- Diuretics including hydrochlorothiazide and chlorthalidone eliminate extra water from the body, lowering blood pressure.
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Prevention :
Lifestyle changes can help lower high blood pressure and can help anyone with hypertension. Many who make these changes will still need to take medicine.
These lifestyle changes can help prevent and lower high blood pressure.
Do:
- Eat more vegetables and fruits.
- Sit less.
- Be more physically active, which can include walking, running, swimming, dancing or activities that build strength, like lifting weights.
- Get at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes per week of vigorous aerobic activity.
- Do strength building exercises 2 or more days each week.
- Lose weight if you’re overweight or obese.
- Take medicines as prescribed by your health care professional.
- Keep appointments with your health care professional
Don’t:
- eat too much salty food (try to stay under 2 grams per day)
- eat foods high in saturated or trans fats
- smoke or use tobacco
- drink too much alcohol (1 drink daily max for women, 2 for men)
- miss or share medication
Reducing hypertension prevents heart attack, stroke and kidney damage, as well as other health problems.
Reduce the risks of hypertension by:
- reducing and managing stress
- regularly checking blood pressure
- treating high blood pressure
- managing other medical conditions https://blogs.mlsdiagnostics.com/