Keep A High Level of Energy and Right Level of Blood Pressure
Your doctor may have suggested that you get your blood pressure checked during one of your routine checkups or during a visit to the clinic because you were experiencing headaches. Even though you have been following the instructions that your doctors have given you, it is possible that you have not had the opportunity to fully comprehend the significance of these blood pressure screenings.
The arterial system transports blood throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nourishment to your organs. Blood pressure refers to the pressure of the blood against the arterial walls. The risks of stroke, heart attack, and other illnesses rise when stress levels are consistently high. Read the article where Sirwiss-partnered health professionals offer their knowledge on why you need to take your blood pressure numbers seriously so that you can have a complete understanding of the situation.
What Is Blood Pressure?
High blood pressure is a common disorder affecting the arteries of the body. It is also known as hypertension. When you have high blood pressure, the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is always too strong. To pump blood, the heart has to work harder. Throughout the course of a normal day, your blood pressure typically varies from high to low.
What Do Blood Pressure Readings Indicate?
Two numbers are used to calculate blood pressure:
The first number, systolic blood pressure, measures how much pressure is in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats. If the systolic pressure is 120 and the diastolic pressure is 80, you would say “120 over 80” or write “120/80 mmHg.”
What are the Normal Blood Pressure Readings?
The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association divide blood pressure into four general categories. Ideal blood pressure is categorized as normal.)
1. Normal blood pressure. Blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg or lower.
2. Elevated blood pressure. The top number ranges from 120 to 129 mm Hg and the bottom number are below, not above, 80 mm Hg.
3. Stage 1 hypertension. The top number ranges from 130 to 139 mm Hg or the bottom number is between 80- and 89-mm Hg.
4. Stage 2 hypertension. The top number is 140 mm Hg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mm Hg or higher.
Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered a hypertensive emergency or crisis.
What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?
Hypertension refers to a rise in blood pressure above the usual range. The activities you engage in cause fluctuations in your blood pressure throughout the day. It’s possible to be diagnosed with high blood pressure if your readings are persistently higher than the normal range (or hypertension).
If your blood pressure is high, you’re more likely to suffer from additional health issues down the road. Diastolic and systolic blood pressure readings are used to diagnose hypertension and determine the best course of therapy after being compared to established norms by your healthcare team. Different medical practitioners may use slightly different criteria when making a diagnosis of hypertension.
What are the Indications and Symptoms of Hypertension?
Even when blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels, most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms. High blood pressure can exist for years without causing any symptoms.
A few high blood pressure patients may have:
1. Headaches
2. Breathing difficulty
3. Nosebleeds
These symptoms, however, are not specific. They normally do not appear until high blood pressure has progressed to a severe or life-threatening level.
What Factors Contribute to High Blood Pressure?
In most cases, high blood pressure develops over the course of time. It is possible to develop this condition as a result of leading an unhealthy lifestyle, such as not obtaining enough regular physical activity. There are also medical conditions that, when present, can raise the likelihood of acquiring high blood pressure. Diabetes and obesity are two such conditions. It’s also possible to have high blood pressure while you’re pregnant.
What are the Consequences of High Blood Pressure?
Many bodily functions can be negatively impacted by hypertension. Vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes might suffer severe damage. Fortunately, high blood pressure can usually be controlled, reducing the risk of major health issues.
Cardiovascular Disease and Heart Attack
Damaged arteries are less elastic, reducing the amount of blood and oxygen that can flow to the heart and increasing the risk of heart disease caused by high blood pressure. Furthermore, reduced cardiac blood flow might result in:
1. Angina pectoris, also known as chest pain.
2. A heart attack occurs when the heart’s arteries get blocked, preventing oxygen from reaching the heart’s muscle and causing it to die. The longer the heart goes without oxygenated blood, the worse the damage will be.
3. If your heart fails, it cannot provide an adequate supply of blood and oxygen to the rest of your body, a condition known as heart failure.
Stroke and Brain Problems
Having high blood pressure increases the risk of having a stroke by placing extra strain on the arteries that carry blood and oxygen to the brain. If blood flow to the brain is interrupted for any reason, brain cells die. Difficulties in communication, movement, and other daily activities are common after a stroke. A fatal stroke is another possible outcome. Deterioration in mental acuity and the development of dementia have both been linked to high blood pressure, particularly in middle age.
Kidney Disease
In adults, the chance of developing chronic kidney disease is increased when either diabetes or high blood pressure is present.
How Can You Tell If You Have Hypertension?
Only by having your blood pressure measured by a medical specialist can you determine if you have high blood pressure. A blood pressure reading won’t take more than a few minutes and won’t cause any discomfort. Ask your doctor about starting a routine of taking your own blood pressure readings at home, a practice known as self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) monitoring. Many people with high blood pressure do not even realize they have it, earning it the nickname “silent killer.”
What Steps Can You Take to Avoid or Control High Blood Pressure?
Changes in lifestyle are often all that is needed to bring a person’s blood pressure down into a healthy range or to keep it there. Discuss with your healthcare team and:
1. Maintaining a weekly activity level of at least 150 minutes (about 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week)
2. Eliminating tobacco use
3. Reducing harmful substances from one’s diet, such as salt and alcohol
4. Maintaining a healthy body
5. Overcoming Anxiety
Take the time to educate yourself on hypertension as well as its treatment and prevention. Some people who have high blood pressure, despite making significant adjustments to their lifestyle, still need to take medication to regulate their blood pressure.
If you suspect you have high blood pressure or if you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure but are unable to bring it under control, it is imperative that you speak with your healthcare team as soon as possible. Actions taken to reduce blood pressure are protective against cardiovascular disease, which includes heart attacks and strokes (CVD).
Testing for hypertension is a vital element of preventative medicine. Depending on age and overall health, the frequency with which blood pressure should be measured varies. As you reach the age of 18, you should start asking your doctor for a blood pressure reading every two years. Everyone age 40 and over, or those between the ages of 18 and 39 who are at high risk for developing high blood pressure, should get their blood pressure checked annually. If you have high blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors, your doctor will probably want to see you more frequently for monitoring. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends measuring blood pressure at each annual appointment for children aged 3 and up.