All About Blood Pressure
Everything You Need To Know About Blood Pressure
What is blood pressure? How much do you know about blood
pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against
your artery walls. When you check your blood pressure, it
will show two reading of two numbers: one on top and one on
bottom.
The top number is your systolic pressure, which means the
force of your blood in your arteries when your heart beats.
The bottom number refers to your diastolic pressure. This
is the force of your blood in your arteries when your heart
relaxes in-between beats.
Normal blood pressure would be a reading of 120/80 or lower.
High blood pressure measures a reading of 140/90 or higher.
When you have high blood pressure you are at a higher risk
of a stroke or heart and kidney disease.
There are many reasons of high blood pressure, which include
physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, stress and your
diet. These are only among the few reasons. There are also
some medical conditions and medications can also cause high
blood pressure.
There are certain effects to your body that high blood pressure
brings. For example, it can cause a stroke. The high pressure
can cause a weakened blood vessel to break causing it to bleed
into the brain, hence leaving you with a stroke.
High blood pressure might also sometimes cause your blood
vessels in your eyes to bleed or burst. If this happens your
vision will be blurred or impaired and might even result in
blindness. This is why it is best to keep control on your
blood pressure.
Besides, stroke or kidney disease high blood pressure can
also cause a heart attack. Your arteries are what work to
bring blood carrying oxygen to your heart muscle. If your
heart is not getting enough oxygen you will experience chest
pain. If the blood flow is blocked then you will also experience
a heart attack.
Congestive Heart Failure usually happens among people with
high blood pressure. This condition is very severe where your
heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the needs of your
body. You should know that it is never too late to start taking
control of your health starting with your blood pressure.
Basically, anyone can develop high blood pressure, even children.
However, it is more common for African Americans to develop
it. Many Americans will develop high blood pressure as they
age but that doesn't mean it is healthy.
Obesity also affects high blood pressure. If you are over
weight, you are more exposed to the risk of having high blood
pressure as well as a stroke or heart disease. So, you should
try to lose at least ten pounds and this will help lower your
blood pressure significantly.
Having a healthy diet can help greatly in lowering or controlling
your blood pressure. Reduce the intake of salt and sodium
and add more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. When
you have a healthy diet, your risk of developing high blood
pressure is reduced as well.
Always check your blood pressure during your regular doctor
visits. If you have high blood pressure and are concerned
you can easily just monitor from home. Make sure that your
home monitoring device is effective and you are operating
it correctly.
Keep a record of your blood pressure readings so you will
know what’s working for you and what isn't. You should
understand that sometimes regular lifestyle changes alone
won't help as much as they would combined with blood pressure
medication. Doctor is always the best person to tell you what
your needs would be.
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