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How to read your blood tension properly

Blood pressure is the amount of pressure that your blood exerts on the blood vessels of your body. While your heart beats, it contracts and relaxes, pushing the blood of the heart towards the arteries, which are blood vessels which direct the blood towards the body.

A blood pressure measurement includes a higher number and a lower number, given in millimeters of mercury (MMHG). The upper number is your systolic blood pressure and the lower number is your diastolic blood pressure.

The two numbers of a reading of the blood pressure represent different readings linked to your heart rate:

  • Systolic blood pressure: Pressure on your arteries when your heart contractsrepresented by the upper number in a reading of blood pressure
  • Diastolic blood pressure: Pressure on your arteries when your heart relaxrepresented by the lower number in a reading of the blood pressure

Systolic pressure is the increased pressure of your arteries with each contraction of your heart. This is the higher number on a reading of blood pressure.

What is normal and what is high?

Normal systolic blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg. Having high systolic blood pressure, or reading greater than 130 mmHg means that blood vessels are undergoing additional pressure. The heart must work harder to push blood.

What are the health implications?

Over time, systolic blood pressure, or constantly high hypertension, is harmful to health. It increases the risk of results such as:

  • Heart attack
  • Heart failure
  • Stroke
  • Kidney disease
  • Ocular disease

What causes high systolic blood pressure?

One of the most common causes of systolic hypertension is aging. With aging, the walls of blood vessels become more rigid, resulting in higher pressure. Additional causes of high systolic blood pressure include:

  • Medical conditions such as diabetes and kidney diseases
  • Salt -rich diet
  • Low levels of physical activity
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Some drugs

What about low systolic blood pressure?

Systolic blood pressure can also be too low, a condition called hypotension. In general, a systolic blood pressure of Less than 90 mmHg Can be considered weak, especially if you have symptoms such as:

  • Stunning or dizziness
  • Flourish or vanish
  • Fatigue
  • Nausea
  • Blurred vision

Diastolic pressure is a pressure measurement in your blood vessels during the period when your heart muscle is relaxing.

What is normal and what is high?

Normal diastolic pressure is Less than 80 mmHg. Higher numbers may indicate hypertension.

What are the health implications?

Studies show that high diastolic pressure predicts cardiovascular events such as the heart attack and cerebral vascular accidents regardless of systolic blood pressure, although to a lesser extent.

What causes high diastolic blood pressure?

Unlike systolic pressure, diastolic pressure does not increase in the same way with age.

However, other causes of diastolic hypertension are similar to the causes of systolic hypertension. These include lifestyles such as lack of physical activity, a diet rich in salt, alcohol, certain drugs and other medical conditions such as kidney disease.

What about low diastolic blood pressure?

In general, diastolic readings of Less than 60 mmHg are considered weak and can be the cause of the symptoms of low blood pressure. Some people have low diastolic pressure linked to other conditions, such as aortic regurgitation (leak from the aortic valve).

Systolic and diastolic readings are necessary to determine whether blood pressure is a healthy scope. Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmt systolic And Less than 80 mm Diastolic. So systolic Or The diastolic pressure is high, the blood pressure is considered high or in the hypertensive beach.

Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) Diastolic blood pressure (MmHg) Category
<120 And <80 Normal blood pressure
120-129 And <80 High blood pressure
130-139 Or 80-89 Hypertension Step 1
140 or more Or 90 or more Hypertension Step 2
180 or more Or 120 or more Hypertensive crisis, requiring medical care

The elevations of systolic and diastolic pressure are both associated with results for health such as the heart attack and cerebral vascular accidents. But some studies suggest that a High systolic blood pressure is more strongly linked to these results.

It is important to periodically monitor your blood pressure to make sure it is at a healthy level. Having systolic or diastolic blood pressure raised on more than two occasions means that you are probably suffering from hypertension, a common but under-recognition condition.

Pharmacies often have a machine available to take your blood pressure. You can also measure your blood pressure at home. Here’s how to get the most precise reading:

  • Avoid smoking, exercising, caffeine and eating meals for 30 minutes before reading.
  • Measure your blood pressure before taking medication to lower blood pressure. A doctor may also recommend rechecking your blood pressure at least an hour after taking your medication to make sure it works.
  • Make sure your bladder is empty.
  • Find a quiet place without distractions.
  • Sit straight with your feet and your back sustained. Decrease your legs.
  • Place the armband around your bare arm (not on the sleeve) and support the arm on a surface at your heart.
  • Stay relaxed and do not engage in conversation, including active listening or speech, during the measure.
  • Take two measures at one minute and note the measures to share with your doctor.

High blood pressure is a very treatable condition. A doctor can provide personalized advice on the drop in your blood pressure, but overall, certain lifestyle changes can help lower blood pressure and keep your heart healthy. These include:

  • Get regular physical activity: Aim at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week.
  • Eat a healthy and healthy diet: Reducing salt intake and increasing potassium intake (through fruits and vegetables) can help lower blood pressure. If you have a kidney disease, talk to your health care provider of your recommended potassium intake. The Dash diet and the Mediterranean diet are two diets that can help reduce blood pressure.
  • Avoid smoking: This includes used smoke.
  • Manage your weight: Obesity is linked to high blood pressure. If you have an additional body weight, losing weight can help lower blood pressure.

In addition to lifestyle changes, medicine can also be useful. Many drugs can help treat high blood pressure. Your health professional may recommend treatment according to your individual situation.

Very high or low blood pressure can be a medical emergency. Look for a doctor immediately for the following symptoms:

  • Faintness
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Signs of accident

The measurement of blood pressure includes a higher number (systolic pressure, the pressure that your heart contracts) and a lower number (diastolic pressure, the pressure that your heart relaxes). These figures indicate the pressure exerted on the walls of the blood vessels compared to your heart rate.

Health.com only uses high -quality sources, including studies evaluated by peers, to support the facts of our articles. Read our editorial process to find out more about how we check the facts and keep our content precise, reliable and trustworthy.
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  6. Jacobsen AP, McKittrick M, Daya N, Al Rifai M, MCEVOY JW. Isolated diastolic hypertension and risk of cardiovascular disease: controversies in the hypertension-des-conit side to the argument. Hypertension. 2022; 79 (8): 1571-1578. DOI: 10.1161 / Hypertensionaha. 122.18458

  7. Tang ks, mediros ed, shah ad. Large pulse pressure: a clinical review. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich). 2020; 22 (11): 1960-1967. DOI: 10.1111 / World Cup. 14051

  8. American Heart Association. Home blood pressure monitoring.

  9. Whelton PK, Carey RM, Aronow WS, et al. 2017 ACC / AHA / AHA / AAPA / ABC / ACPM / AGS / APHA / ASH / ASPC / NMA / PCNA Directors for prevention, detection, evaluation and management of high blood pressure in adults: Summary of executions: a report by the American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association Force of the Labor Force. Hypertension. 2018; 71 (6): 1269-1324. DOI: 10.1161 / hyp.00000000000066

  10. American Heart Association. Life is essential 8.

  11. American Heart Association. When calling 911 on high blood pressure.

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