Many people are concerned about their blood pressure levels. A high reading could be dangerous for your health.
High blood pressure can strain your heart. But what is normal and what to do if it is too high?
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When your heart beats, blood moves around your body. As the blood flows, it presses against the sides and ends of the blood vessels.
Your blood pressure is the strength of all this pushing.
What is the normal blood pressure reading?
The ideal blood pressure is below 120 and above 80 (120/80), while most adults in the UK have blood pressure in between 120 and 80 (120/80), and 140 over 90 (1140/90).
The higher the number, the systolicpressure is. This is the force at the which your heart pumps blood around your body.
The diastolic pressure is the resistance to blood flow within the blood vessels.
You can request a blood pressure reading at your local GP as it hardly takes nay time, just a few minutes.
An instrument called a “sphygmomanometer” measures blood pressure.
You place a cuff around your arm, and inflate it with a pump to cut off circulation.
The doctor can then measure blood pressure by slowly inflating the cuff with a small valve.
What are the potential risks of a too high or low level?
Hypertension is when your blood pressure is too high. It can put extra strain on your heart and arteries, and could lead to strokes or heart attacks.
Generally speaking, the lower your blood pressure is the better.
Low blood pressure can be a problem if you have dizziness, nausea or fainting.
You should consult your GP if you have any of these symptoms.
What are the signs of hypertension
If left untreated, high blood pressure can pose a serious risk for strokes and heart attacks.
You may experience severe headaches, confusion, fatigue, vision problems, chest pains, and even nausea.
Patients with high blood pressure may experience difficulties breathing, irregular heartbeat, bloody urine, and pounding inside the chest, neck, or ear.
It’s best to see your GP if you experience any of these symptoms.
What causes hypertension? How can you lower it?
Hypertension is more likely if you’re older than 65, overweight, don’t exercise often, or have a family history of high blood pressure.
It is possible to lower your blood pressure through weight loss. This can be done by exercising more and eating a healthy diet.
Doctors recommend that patients reduce their alcohol intake and quit smoking.
A good way to lower blood pressure is to decrease sodium in your diet. Make sure you read labels and stay away from canned and processed meats.
Your doctor may prescribe medication if you are unable to reduce your cholesterol using natural methods.