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 figure is your systolic blood pressure. The systolic pressure is when 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 readings 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 readings below 120/80. These figures relate to a healthy person but can be gained by almost anyone by keeping a healthy active lifestyle.
The second stage is called ‘Prehypertension’ and relates to blood pressures between ‘normal’ and 140/90. This is the warning stage that you ought to be doing something to decrease 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 called ‘Hypertension Stage One’ and is reflected by numbers between prehypertension and 160/100. If you get into this stage then you really need to see your GP and he will advocate serious changes to your lifestyle along the lines stated above or / and he will put you on tablets.
The fourth stage is known as ‘Hypertension Stage Two’ and is anything above 160/100. This is quite dangerous and your doctor will want to get you to make radical changes to your lifestyle and / or take tablets which could be for the remainder of your life. If you reach this stage go to your doctor’s as soon as you can.
Whilst you are discussing your blood pressure with your doctor, be sure 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 treatments.
There are other things that can affect blood pressure too. lack of sleep is one. Do you have a new-born baby, a sick child, money problems, 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 physician prescribe medication to reduce your blood pressure, make sure he is aware of all your circumstances.
Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on several of subjects, but is currently involved with work on how to read blood pressure. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, just go to our website at High Blood Pressure Recipes.