About Blood Pressure
Wondering what is blood pressure and how it affects human body. In simple terms force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels is considered main reason for blood pressure. Since blood moves through arteries, capillaries, veins and arteries it decreases pressure. Blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, which means pressure in larger arteries. The arteries are blood vessels and they take blood from the heart. The method to measure arterial pressure is through sphygmomanometer, which uses height of rising mercury to reflect circulating pressure.
The pressure values are reported in millimeters of mercury.
When heart beats it pumps blood out into the arteries, on an average it beats 60-70 times a minute. The blood pressure is at highest when heart beats and is pumping blood out into blood vessels.
This situation is called Systolic pressure. Between the beats, when heart is at rest, blood pressure falls. This situation is called diastolic pressure. How to read blood pressure reading? The blood pressure reading comes with two numbers, the Systolic and Diastolic pressure. The combination of both numbers gives blood pressure of body.
The healthy body will have blood pressure around 120/80 mmHG. The top number specifies Systolic pressure and the bottom number gives Diastolic pressure. The blood pressure varies throughout the day it is active more during workout, active, excited or nervous. During sleep it is at lowest level.
Because of its no symptom and no early warning this disease is called as "silent killer". In America 50 million people are suffering from this diseases, most of them are not aware of it. The high blood pressure can cause stroke to brain and heart, if it is left untreated. It can rupture blood vessel in brain or eyes. It can also cause kidney failure. The vessels in kidney do cleaning job by removing excess water from body, if this process stops or slows down it puts kidney at risk. Patient’s vital body organs are at risk, if high blood pressure is not controlled or lowered in time.
It is important to check blood pressure if your age is over 40 (men – 40 , women -35). For some ethnic people risk of high blood pressure starts much early. The blood pressure can be tackled by three ways. The medication is required when patient’s blood pressure is high and it is necessary to bring blood pressure quickly down. Doctors will be in good position to advice patients based on their medical condition. Secondly the most important change patients need is in their lifestyle. They will be asked to make changes in eating habits. Patients are asked to add green vegetables, low fat diary products and low salt and sodium intake in their daily diet. After taking care of medicine and lifestyle changes, the next thing is exercise. Daily 30 minutes of light exercise is way to go.
Blood pressure patients need to devote 30 minutes in a day for exercise. The exercise can be in any form or style such as walking, dog walking, swimming, light aerobics and stretching. Patients should consult their doctor for right medication, proper changes in lifestyle and right set of exercise. Depending on patients age and other medical condition doctor may advise medications, lifestyle and exercise accordingly. Hope this information helps you in understanding about blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Resource
NHLBI
WebMD
LifeClinic
Mayo Clinic
Blood Pressure Reading Chart
Following table gives details about blood pressure reading and how to understand each stage of blood pressure.
Blood Pressure Chart
Systolic Pressure |
Diastolic Pressure |
Current Condition |
What to do |
Read More |
| Below 120 | Below 80 | Normal Blood Pressure | Adopt a healthy lifestyle | [read more] |
| 120 - 139 | 80 - 89 | Prehypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle | [read more] |
| 140 - 159 | 90 - 99 | Stage 1 hypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle Medication Required | [read more] |
| Above 160 | Above 100 | Stage 2 hypertension | Adopt a healthy lifestyle Medication Required | [read more] |
