You hear people ruefully mentioning about how high or low their blood pressure is or being quite smug about its normality. Blood pressure is a barometer of health. Measuring it is one of those expected to-dos at a clinic or a norm in many a hypertensive’s day. High blood pressure and sometimes, low blood pressures both signify a health problem. It is a medical goal to control and direct your blood pressure toward normal levels.
What Is Blood Pressure?
Before we go into the highs and lows of it, let us find out what exactly blood pressure is. Simply put, blood pressure is the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries. As the heart squeezes to pump out blood, it creates a peak in pressure called the systole. When the heart relaxes after the squeeze, pressure ebbs into a moment called the diastole. The systolic and diastolic pressures create a constant wave pattern from which blood pressure is measured.
What Readings Are Considered High, Low, or Normal?
When your blood pressure is taken, you are given two numbers. If the nurse says, “Good news-it’s 110 over 80 (110/80),” this means you are ship-shape and your pressure is within normal range. If she shakes her head and says, “You’re reading 140 over 95,” you’re in potentially dangerous high territory.
The first number is your systolic reading and the second is your diastolic pressure. To know where you stand concerning your blood pressure status, refer to this chart:
Image reference: http://visual.ly/blood-pressure-chart
If either one of your systolic or diastolic numbers are above or below the normal levels, then you either have high or low blood pressure. For instance, if your reading is 145 over 70, you have high blood pressure despite your diastolic number being within normal range. This is because your systolic number is way above the healthy level. Conversely getting a 110 over 60, may put you in the low blood pressure category unless you’re eight years old or a football player.
These systolic and diastolic numbers are measured in units known as “millimetres of mercury” (mmHg) and are commonly written as 120/80 and read out as 120 over 80.
As you age or abuse your body with bad diets, vices, or a sedentary lifestyle, your normally resilient blood vessels become stiff over time with plaque buildup. Plaque stiffens the aorta and dampens the baroreceptors along the wall that help maintain blood pressure. When the sensitivity of these special aortic receptors diminishes, the body’s capacity to regulate blood pressure level also decreases.
What Does It Mean to Have High Blood Pressure?
If you have been diagnosed as hypertensive, your blood pressure is chronically in the high range. A single high reading doesn’t automatically place you in the hypertensive category; but, constant high readings over time do.
High blood pressure can cause heart attack, stroke, or even kidney disease. It can also damage other organs like the eyes and arteries. Hypertension is known as a “silent killer.” Many people have been known to go about for years with high blood pressure and not know about their condition; so that one may perceive himself to be stricken with a major disease out of the blue.
Because you may or may not feel the symptoms of high blood pressure, you should make it a habit to check on your pressure from time to time, especially if you are in your forties and older or have not been exactly living the clean life. It is of utmost importance to recognize and treat hypertension as early as possible.
Categories of Hypertension
Hypertension falls into two categories:
| Blood Pressure | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 140-159 | 90-99 |
| Stage 2 | 160 and above | 100 and above |
Stage 1 has a systolic reading range of 140-159 mmHg and a diastolic range of 90-99 mmHg. At the first stage, you will be advised to make some necessary lifestyle changes. You may need to alter your diet to help you shed a few pounds or to drop your sodium or fat intake. If you smoke or drink above the moderate line, your doctor may ask you to limit or eliminate these substances from your lifestyle. Daily exercise will be recommended as well to help strengthen the cardiovascular system. Medication may also be prescribed, and this usually comes in the form of a thiazide-type of diuretic. A diuretic drug will help your body flush out excess sodium and fluids.
Stage 2 involves systolic measurements at 160 and up and diastolic ones at 100 and over. At Stage 2, hypertension takes an even more dangerous turn as a person is much more vulnerable to stroke or heart attack. Lifestyle changes as mentioned above are a must. More medications will be tacked on to a prescription. It is typical for a stage 2 hypertensive patient to take two or more medications in a day to control his blood pressure levels.
Symptoms of Hypertension
When hypertension deigns to show itself through symptoms, your blood pressure may well be very elevated. You may feel:
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Headaches/Migraines
- Ringing in the ears
What Does It Mean to Have Low Blood Pressure?
Ironically, chronic low blood pressure does not pose much of a threat unless it is accompanied by symptoms. If you are experiencing any or some of these symptoms and have low blood pressure readings, consult a doctor immediately:
- Nausea or vomiting
- Cold, clammy, pale skin
- Fast but shallow breathing
- Fatigue/ exhaustion
- Dizziness/ light-headedness
- Fainting spells
- Dehydration or exacerbated thirst
- Lack of focus or concentration
- Blurred vision
These symptoms along with low blood pressure can signal other health issues such as endocrine problems, septic shock, or a potential fatal allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). So be very aware of symptomatic low blood pressure. Severe low blood pressure can also indicate serious neurological, cardiovascular, or endocrine problems. It can also lead to shock which is life threatening as low blood pressure can reduce the flow of oxygen and vital nutrients to the brain and other important organs.
The Goal: Normal Blood Pressure
Optimal blood pressure for most people is 120/80; although, some health professionals believe the new ideal is 115/75. If you have this kind of reading or a measurement within the normal range, do what you can to maintain it by following the tenets of a healthy lifestyle.
It is difficult to keep your blood pressure level tacked on a normal level once you have been diagnosed as hypertensive. Know that every 20 point increase in systolic pressure or every 10 point increase in diastolic pressure doubles the chances of cardiovascular problems and stroke for people over the age of 40. If you belong to the 40’s and above age range, make it a habit to monitor your blood pressure even if you feel fit and healthy. It will only take a few minutes of your time but at least you will not have the unpleasant surprise of discovering health issues from an asymptomatic rising blood pressure. It is always best to have a modicum of control where your blood pressure is concerned.
