{"id":16179,"date":"2022-04-10T21:25:11","date_gmt":"2022-04-10T21:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ovadiahearthealth.com\/old-site\/?p=16179"},"modified":"2022-04-10T21:26:50","modified_gmt":"2022-04-10T21:26:50","slug":"common-blood-pressure-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ovadiahearthealth.com\/old-site\/2022\/04\/10\/common-blood-pressure-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"Common blood pressure questions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Abnormally high blood pressure is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, increasing mortality risks, instigating chronic illnesses, and reducing quality of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re unsure about the meaning behind your blood pressure measurements, you\u2019re certainly not alone: an<\/span> estimated 700 million people<\/span><\/a> are unaware of their hypertension diagnosis, despite the fact that, left untreated, it can result in death. Today, 1.28 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure and face a higher risk of kidney, brain, and<\/span> heart disease<\/span><\/a> at all stages of life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Misunderstandings and myths regarding blood pressure are prevalent, and detrimental to heart disease prevention. It’s critical to have a firm grasp of blood pressure and its proper management to equip yourself for long term health. So in this article, I\u2019m going to answer some of the most common blood pressure questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is blood pressure?<\/h2>\n

Blood pressure is one of the most important functions of the human body. This vital force powers the entire circulatory system, delivering much-needed nutrients to every part of the body. Healthy hearts pump<\/span> five liters of blood<\/span><\/a> every minute while at rest, beating<\/span> more than 100,000 times a day<\/span><\/a> to maintain oxygenation, hydration, and consciousness.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure goes awry, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage a healthy lifestyle. Side effects from high blood pressure may encourage chronic inflammation, cause weight gain, and increase your risk for heart attacks and strokes.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do I measure blood pressure?<\/h2>\n

To understand the measurements of<\/span> healthy blood pressure<\/span><\/a>, you must first understand its basic units. There are two numbers used in the calculation of blood pressure:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Systolic: The top number of your blood pressure reading, which measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (contractions).<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Diastolic: The bottom number of your blood pressure reading, which measures the pressure in your arteries between heartbeats (at rest).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Blood pressure is typically measured using millimeters of mercury (mmHg), which estimates the average volume of blood putting pressure on your vessel walls. Your care provider may choose to use a blood pressure cuff (sphygmomanometer) that measures the flow of blood from the brachial artery. Other devices, including fingertip readers or digital monitors, are very common in doctors’ offices.<\/span><\/p>\n

    There are also lots of monitors that you can buy to use at home, which I highly encourage. Knowing your current numbers and any changes will help you understand the next steps for maintaining healthy blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

    What is a healthy blood pressure?<\/h2>\n

    A systolic reading under 140 mmHg and a diastolic reading under 90 mmHg is considered to be<\/span> in the “normal” range<\/span><\/a>. However, this range will change considerably depending on other health factors, including weight, age, athleticism, and genetic makeup.<\/span><\/p>\n

    It\u2019s also important to remember that your blood pressure will not be determined by a single reading. Doctors will take multiple measurements over time to check for averages, which will be used to reach a final verdict. If you have a systolic or diastolic value that goes above or below set values, it may be considered abnormal.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Blood pressure that falls outside of healthy ranges may result in physical consequences. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is known as the ‘silent killer’ for many reasons. Not only is it difficult to catch early, but it may result in health complications or even death for otherwise healthy persons. While less dangerous, hypotension (low blood pressure) may result in weakness, dizzy spells, and even unconsciousness. Severe cases may cause a continuous brain fog, as the body doesn\u2019t have enough oxygen running to essential organs.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level is essential to<\/span> heart disease prevention<\/span><\/a>. Fortunately, this can be accomplished even without prescription medications.<\/span><\/p>\n

    How do I keep my blood pressure at a healthy level?<\/h2>\n

    There are a few lifestyle changes you can implement immediately to work on lowering blood pressure and<\/span> increase heart health<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n