What do blood pressure numbers mean?

[Maurice Boscorelli]

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[h=3]What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?[/h] When your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure.
A normal systolic blood pressure is below 120.
A systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 means you have prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. Even people with prehypertension are at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure.
[h=3]What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?[/h] The diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
A normal diastolic blood pressure number is less than 80.
A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 indicates prehypertension.
A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure.
[h=3]How Is Blood Pressure Measured?[/h] Blood pressure is measured with a simple, painless test using a blood pressure cuff -- doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a cuff.
The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the forearm or wrist.
When taking your blood pressure, your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through an artery.
The cuff is inflated to a pressure that’s known to be higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away, that indicates the diastolic blood pressure.
The systolic blood pressure number is always said first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is given. For example, your blood pressure may be read as "120 over 80" or written 120/80.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
[h=3]How Often Should I Get My Blood Pressure Checked?[/h]

• If your blood pressure is normal (less than 120/80), get it checked at least every 2 years or more frequently as your doctor suggests.
• If your blood pressure is borderline high -- systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 -- check it at least every year or more often as your doctor suggests.
• If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, talk with your doctor as this is high blood pressure and requires a doctor’s attention.

 

[papasmerf]

means big money to some

 

[TINY]

means big money to some

Mostly Doctors.

 

[Leo]

Thanks for educating us again.

 

[RAWD]

Geez, I've been on meds for years and I didn't know that. Diet and stress are big factors for me. More vacations and less personal stress this year have done wonders for my bp

 

[Weasel]

Good thread.

 

[Blank_Dave]

More vacations and less personal stress this year have done wonders for my bp

LOL Vacation = personal stress to me.

I'm actually happy to get back to work, after vacation, because it means I get a rest.

 

[Falconero]

Eye opener for yours truly.

 

[God]

Thanks Maurice.


God has spoken.

 

[celticman]

I have a blood pressure monitor at home and check my BP occasionally. It gives the same result as my docs office. My BP is usually around 110 over 70 but goes up to 120 over 80 when I am not taking care of myself. So it is a good thing for me to monitor.

 

[oldguyzer]

Keep in mind blood pressure varies all day, depending on activity level, stress level, and even diet (eating something salty can affect it, for example). Any single-measure of BP should be treated as just that. It's the long term average that matters. Best is to measure your BP using a home BP meter ($40 to $100 at any pharmacy) in the morning before any activity. Or, during the day, sit calmly for ten minutes then take the pressure. Anything over 130/80 as a resting BP means see your doctor. Anything under that is fine.

Spikes happen. Don't freak out if the numebrs are higher than 140/80. Just take the BP the next day and see what the result is then. This is an indicator, not an absolute measure of your health. As I said, many things can affect it.

Don't take your BP more than twice every half hour. Trends are not useful in a short timeframe.

 

[lovelatinas]

Took mine at Shoppers and it's 146/97. That was after a stressful day at work. I do know that I do eat too much salty foods and need to cut back on that.

 

[oldguyzer]

Remember BP changes during the day and depends on many factors. BP reflects how hard the heart has to pump to get blood around your body so oxygen can get to the cells. If you've been lying down for half an hour, the cells need less oxygen than if you've been running for half an hour, so of course the BP will be lower in the former case. If you eat a lot of foods that need processing in the digestive tract, BP goes up. If you are stressed BP goes up. If you smoke or are obese, BP goes up.

Active BP is not a true indicator of resting BP. Best time to take your BP is int he morning or evening, after sitting for a few minutes, and see what the numbers are. If you're over 140/90 at rest, then see your quack.