Abnormal blood pressure puts you at risk of several serious health problems including heart attack and stroke. Your blood pressure is a measurement of the force of your blood as it moves through the arteries in your body. It's made up of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic Blood Pressure
The first (top) number in a blood pressure reading
The force exerted against your artery walls when your heart beats
Diastolic Blood Pressure
The second (bottom) number in a blood pressure reading
The force exerted against your artery walls when your heart is between beats
High blood pressure is generally of greater concern when talking about risks. It's also called hypertension. Low blood pressure is called hypotension.
This article discusses how normal blood pressure is measured, what it means when your blood pressure is too low or too high, how blood pressure conditions are treated, and when to see a healthcare provider.
What Is Normal Blood Pressure?
A normal blood pressure is a systolic blood pressure that is less than 120 means that your systolic blood pressure ranges (on average) from 120 to 129 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and a diastolic blood pressure that is less than 80 mmHg.
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommend that adults should have their blood pressure checked at least once a year. If an adult has one or more risk factors for high blood pressure—for example, a family history or a history of smoking—they should be screened at least twice a year.
What Is High Blood Pressure?
The ACC and the AHA recognize multiple stages of hypertension.1
Elevated
An elevated high blood pressure means that your systolic blood pressure ranges (on average) from 120 to 129 mmHg and your diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mmHg.
If left untreated, elevated blood pressure puts you at risk for developing stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension.
Stage 1
Stage 1 hypertension means that your systolic blood pressure is between 130 to 139 mmHg or your diastolic blood pressure is between 80 to 90 mmHg.
Stage 2
Stage 2 hypertension means that your systolic blood pressure is higher than 140 mmHg or your diastolic blood pressure is higher than 90 mmHg.
Hypertensive Crisis
If your blood pressure is above 180/120, it's considered a hypertensive crisis and you should seek medical help immediately. Call 911 if you also experience chest pain, back pain, shortness of breath, numbness or weakness, vision changes, or difficulty speaking.
Understanding the ACC/AHA Definition
It's important to mention that the definition of high blood pressure according to the ACC/AHA defers slightly from other professional societies, such as the European Society of Cardiology and the European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH).
The ESC/ESH defines high blood pressure as a systolic blood pressure that is 140 mmHg or higher or a diastolic blood pressure that is greater than 90 mmHg.2
The differences in definition are based on results from large studies that examined the link between blood pressure and the occurrence of heart attacks and strokes.
Symptoms and Complications
Hypertension is often referred to as the "silent killer" because it often causes no symptoms (regardless of the stage) unless dangerous complications develop. High blood pressure puts you at risk for other serious conditions such as:
Heart attack or heart failure, which may cause chest pain or trouble breathing
Stroke, which may cause headache or blurry vision
Chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, which may cause elevated levels of blood creatinine along with increased levels of white and red blood cells and protein in the urine.
BLOOD PRESSURE SYSTOLIC AND/OR DIASTOLIC
Normal 90-120 and 60-80
Elevated 120-129 and 60-80
Stage 1 Hypertension 130-139 or 80-89
Stage 2 Hypertension Above 140 or Above 90
Hypertensive Crisis Above 180 and/or Above 120
Hypotension Under 90 and Under 60
Treating High Blood Pressure
Treatment for high blood pressure typically involves a combination of lifestyle changes and one or more medications. If you have elevated high blood pressure, lifestyle changes are a first-line step to avoid the progression to stage 1 or stage 2 hypertension.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure include:
Restricting salt in your diet by avoiding processed foods and eating fresh foods
Losing weight if you're overweight or obese
Engaging in regular physical activity—at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week
Limiting alcohol consumption
Quitting smoking
Your healthcare provider may also recommend the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which has been found to lower blood pressure. This diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in red meats and sweets.
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Medications
Medication, along with lifestyle changes, is often very effective in lowering a person's blood pressure.
The medications use for high blood pressure can be broken into four main categories:
Thiazide diuretics
Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
Calcium channel blockers
Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
Finding the right medication (or combination of medications) for your high blood pressure often requires a trial-and-error process. Try to remain patient and keep in close contact with your healthcare provider as your regimen is fine-tuned.
How Hypertension Is Treated
What Is Low Blood Pressure?
Low blood pressure, called hypotension, is defined as a systolic blood pressure that is less than 90 mmHg. It has several potential causes, such as:
Pregnancy
Underlying heart conditions
Certain medications
Dehydration
Shock from an infection (septic shock) or allergic reaction (anaphylactic shock)
Low blood pressure is generally not worrisome unless you have symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting.
Depending on what is causing your low blood pressure, other potential symptoms may include:3
Nausea
Blurry vision
Cool, clammy skin
Fatigue
Rapid breathing
Thirst
What a Sudden Drop in Blood Pressure Means
Treating Low Blood Pressure
The treatments for low blood pressure involve addressing the underlying cause.
For instance, if you're experiencing low blood pressure from dehydration, the treatment would be fluid and electrolyte replacement.
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