Understanding Your Blood Pressure Readings
If you have reason to be concerned about your blood pressure, you should begin monitoring it yourself at home. High blood pressure or hypertension is known as ‘The Silent Killer’ because you cannot know whether you have it unless you measure it. You cannot guess or just feel it. First of all, you should talk to your doctor and he will give you some figures, then you can buy a blood pressure monitor and keep an eye on your condition.
When you are given your blood pressure reading by either your physician or your machine, you will be given two figures, say 120/80.
The first number is your systolic blood pressure. The systolic pressure is while your heart ‘beats’ or contracts, pumping your blood around you body.
The second number is while your heart expands, sucking blood back into itself. This is the diastolic blood pressure. These numbers are of the blood pressure in your arteries.
There are four categories that your blood pressure readings can fall into. The first is normal and it is by and large accepted that that means numbers below 120/80. These numbers relate to a healthy person and can be achieved by almost anyone by maintaining a healthy active lifestyle.
The second stage is known as ‘Prehypertension’ and relates to blood pressures between ‘normal’ and 140/90. This is the warning stage that you ought to be doing something to reduce your blood pressure. This could mean: a change of diet; drinking less alcohol, tea or coffee; losing weight; taking more exercise; smoking less or giving up smoking altogether.
The third stage is known as ‘Hypertension Stage One’ and is reflected by numbers between prehypertension and 160/100. If you get into this stage then you really have to see your physician and he will recommend significant alterations to your lifestyle along the lines suggested above or / and he will put you on tablets.
The fourth stage is called ‘Hypertension Stage Two’ and is anything above 160/100. This is fairly serious and your medical doctor will want to get you to make radical changes to your lifestyle and / or take tablets which could be for the rest of your life. If you reach this stage go to your medical doctor’s as soon as possible.
While you are discussing your blood pressure with your physician, be certain you tell him about any other medication you are taking, because some medication will raise blood pressure as well. Examples of medication that can raise your blood pressure are: anti-depressants, oral contraceptives and anti-flu or anti-cough medications.
There are other items that can have an effect on blood pressure as well. lack of sleep is one. Do you have a new-born baby, a sick child, money worries, sleep apnoea or a snoring spouse that inhibit you from sleeping properly?
Fear, anger and anxiety are also reasons for high blood pressure. So is constipation, drinking too much and smoking. So, before you let your doctor prescribe medication to reduce your blood pressure, make certain he is aware of all your conditions.
Owen Jones, the writer of this piece writes on several of topics, but is currently involved with work on how to read blood pressure. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our site at High Blood Pressure Recipes.
