When you have your blood pressure measured , you will be given two numbers, a top number and a bottom number. Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury mmHg. This video explains more about systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Once you know your numbers, you can use the blood pressure chart to see what they mean and if your blood pressure is in the healthy range. Simply find your top number systolic on the left side of the chart and your bottom number diastolic on the bottom.
Where the two lines meet is your blood pressure. Download the chart. Get ready for Christmas early with our range of beautiful cards, wrapping paper and gifts including personalised notebooks.
Whether you're looking for something traditional or modern, we're sure you will find something you love. Shop now at Care Cards who will post the items on our behalf. This is the point where your risk of serious health problems goes up. They might prescribe medications and advise you to make changes to your lifestyle to bring your blood pressure down.
During childhood we play a lot and run a lot which keep our blood pressure rising and coming down. But as we age and enter into a career we forget physical activities, now our normal blood pressure rarely rises due to a physical workout and our blood vessels looses their elasticity in a few decades. So if you keep doing some physical exercises on regular basis then it will help your blood vessels in keeping their elasticity and maintaining your normal blood pressure.
Record for Highest Blood Pressure. Diseases caused by High Blood Pressure. The same reading mentioned above are now shown in the form of a graph to make it more understandable. Using this blood pressure graph you can easily understand how average blood pressure of men increases with age.
This class of drug is often very successful in lowering blood pressure, especially in people over 55 and those of African-Caribbean origin.
You may need to have regular blood tests after you start treatment to check that the potassium levels in your blood have not dropped, and that your blood sugar level is maintained. Possible side effects include an increased need to go to the toilet, feeling thirsty, dizziness, weakness, feeling lethargic or sick, muscle cramps, skin rash, an increase in uric acid a chemical in the body that can cause kidney problems and gout , raised blood sugar levels and for men, problems with getting an erection.
Taking diuretics with beta-blockers can increase your long-term risk of diabetes. Check with your doctor whether this medicine combination is right for you. Other types of medication Beta-blockers. Beta-blockers work by making your heart beat more slowly and with less force, which reduces your blood pressure. It is important that you do not suddenly stop taking this type of medication without seeking medical advice first. These drugs would need to be tailed off gradually.
Stopping suddenly can lead to serious side effects such as a rise in blood pressure or an angina attack. Possible side effects include slowing of the heart rate, cold fingers and toes, nausea, diarrhoea, tiredness and disturbed sleep.
If you are taking beta-blockers and experience difficulty breathing, or develop asthma, you should contact your doctor immediately. Other drug groups. Other drugs that may be used to control blood pressure include doxazosin and terazosin which belong to a group called alpha-blockers , and clonidine and methyldopa which belong to a group called centrally acting drugs. Another type of diurectic called spironolactone can also be used at low doses.
In a small number of cases, medicines to lower blood pressure can react negatively with other health conditions or types of medication you may be taking, including some over-the-counter ones.
Always ensure your GP knows your full medical history, and check with your GP or pharmacist before taking any other types of medication. Many people experience no side effects when taking their medication. However, if you are reacting badly to your blood pressure medication or start to feel unwell, make an appointment with your doctor or nurse as soon as you can.
You should have your blood pressure checked and your medication reviewed at least once a year. Your doctor may want to check this more regularly soon after initiating or changing any treatments. If you have trouble remembering to take it, ask your GP or pharmacist for your medication to be given to you in pre-filled boxes with times clearly marked on them.
Call if you think you are having a stroke. Home What is stroke? Diagnosis to discharge Childhood stroke Living with stroke After hospital discharge Effects of stroke Aphasia and communication Fatigue and tiredness Stroke publications Know your risk Are you at risk of stroke? High blood pressure Are you at risk of stroke? Are you at risk of stroke? High blood pressure 3. Atrial fibrillation 4. Diabetes 5. High cholesterol 6. Sickle cell disease. The information on this page can be accessed in the following formats: Download this information as a pdf or large print document.
Order a printed copy from our shop To request a braille copy, email helpline stroke. What is high blood pressure? Strokes due to a clot in the blood supply to the brain ischaemic stroke High blood pressure puts a strain on all the blood vessels throughout your body, including the ones leading to the brain. Stroke due to bleeding in or around the brain haemorrhagic stroke The extra strain that high blood pressure puts on your blood vessels may cause a weakened blood vessel to burst inside the brain, causing bleeding on and into surrounding tissues.
You are more likely to have high blood pressure if you have one or more of these risk factors: Age: the risk of having high blood pressure rises as you get older. Our policies Using this website Contact us Leave your feedback.
Week Know Your Numbers! Week is the UK's biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event. Every September, volunteers give free blood pressure checks to thousands of passers-by to prevent heart attacks and strokes. Week This year's campaign will take place from September Don't miss your chance to take part in the UK's biggest blood pressure testing and awareness event.
We will: encourage the nation to use a simple and reliable blood pressure monitor to measure their blood pressure at home and take the necessary steps if their reading is considered high raise awareness about the risks of high blood pressure.
How you can get involved As a Pressure Partner or Patient Ambassador you have a crucial role to play. Become a Pressure Partner This role is for pharmacies, gyms, leisure centres, hospitals, GP surgeries, care centres, Local authorities, libraries and employers. Promote home blood pressure monitoring HBPM by encouraging purchase including in your own pharmacies or sharing of blood pressure monitors. For example, online via your websites, newsletters and social media.
Offer guidance on how to use a monitor properly and what to do if the reading is high. Direct people to our website and helpline where they can find all sorts of information about choosing a home monitor, how to use it, and how to look after their blood pressure.
Patients may not able to get a blood pressure check in pharmacies, GP surgeries at the moment, but patients still need help and guidance from their health care professional, and shared decision making on their treatment and medicine adherence. You have a vital role in offering this support. Talk about the risks of high blood pressure such as heart disease, stroke and dementia, and reinforce the healthy lifestyle message, namely the role of healthy eating and physical activity.
Become a Patient Ambassador This role is for the general public, patients and our members. Speak to friends and family to encourage them to buy or borrow a blood pressure monitor and start measuring their blood pressure at home. Excess pounds are a risk factor for heart disease and type 2 diabetes, two conditions associated with high blood pressure.
Control stress levels. Stress causes an increase in blood pressure, so staying cool and calm can help you maintain your healthy blood pressure readings. Relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, and yoga are proven stress-busters.
Too much alcohol increases blood pressure and contributes to weight gain. According to the, Mayo Clinic , women of any age and men over 65 should enjoy no more than one drink a day, and men under 65 should have no more than two drinks daily.
Smoking increases blood pressure and heart rate and raises the risk of heart attack or stroke. Nicotine also leads to narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which can increase your blood pressure readings.
This range of blood pressure was previously defined as slightly elevated blood pressure that may lead to hypertension if left untreated.
Measurements ranged from to systolic over 85 to 91 diastolic , depending on age. New standards now classify Elevated Blood Pressure as:. Causes of elevated blood pressure are the same as the causes of hypertension, and the treatment options are similar.
At this stage, there may be no noticeable hypertension symptoms, but damage to the body may still be occurring, and your risk of heart attack and stroke is increased. Readings in this category range from to mm Hg systolic over 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic , depending on age.
Stage 1 hypertension, which can be caused by everything from poor diet to stress, is considered to be mild to moderate high blood pressure. However, your doctor may decide that you need treatment, even without symptoms.
If not addressed, stage 1 hypertension will increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health issues. It may also progress to stage 2 hypertension - a more severe type of high blood pressure. This is a serious condition and requires immediate treatment - which includes eliminating the root causes of the condition. At this stage, you may be noticing some symptoms of hypertension and your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other serious health issues greatly increase.
These conditions are caused by untreated hypertension and require immediate attention. Contact your physician immediately to discuss next steps. This type of blood pressure problem can usually be handled by adjusting your medications, but it is crucial that you speak to your doctor.
Do not wait to see if your blood pressure improves. Call or head to the nearest emergency room. To treat this serious condition, doctors may give you blood pressure medications intravenously IV , or other treatments aimed to decrease your risk of long-term effects. If you are experiencing a Hypertensive Crisis, never wait for your blood pressure to come back down before seeking medical attention. Treatment options include blood pressure medication administered through IVs and specific therapy treatment for possible organ damage.
For many people, no one specific factor leads to the development of high blood pressure. It tends to develop gradually over time as a result of age and the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries. However, some lifestyle factors can speed up the onset of high blood pressure. A few of these factors include a high-sodium diet, too much alcohol, inactivity, and stress. Health conditions like thyroid disease, kidney disease, and sleep apnea might increase your risk of high blood pressure.
Taking medications such as prescription drugs, decongestants, and pain relievers may also be contributing factors. Risks associated with high blood pressure can become life-threatening if not adequately monitored or addressed Image reference. Even at stage 2, hypertension may not cause any noticeable effects. Those who do experience symptoms may notice:. However, even in the absence of symptoms, the elevated blood pressure is still damaging your blood vessels and heart and increasing the risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and more.
For these reasons, regular check-ups along with at-home blood pressure monitoring are necessary to stop progression or reverse some of the damage done. Whether you have prehypertension, or full-blown hypertension at any stage, the treatments options are the same. However, those with more severe high blood pressure may need to be more aggressive in their approach than those with blood pressure readings which are close to normal. Common treatment regimen include A small, portable, at-home blood pressure monitor cuff is a convenient way to stay on top of your readings throughout the day Image Reference.
A healthy, balanced, diet helps to keep high blood pressure at bay Image Reference. What you put in your body can have a profound impact on your health. Choose to fill your plate with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds and lean protein sources like fish and beans.
Make sure to incorporate drinks that lower blood pressure and avoid diuretics. For lower blood pressure and all-around better health, avoid processed foods, trans fats, and red meat, and cut down on your intake of sugar and saturated fat. Too much dietary salt disturbs the delicate balance of sodium and potassium in the body. This increases fluid retention and puts excess strain on the kidneys and the blood vessels around the kidneys. The American Heart Association recommends people consume no more than 1, mg of sodium a day - which is a little over half a teaspoon of salt.
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