Blood pressure, a measure of the force our heart uses to pump blood throughout the body, is a crucial health indicator that we can understand and control.
Understanding blood pressure measurements is crucial as it empowers us to take control of our health. Blood pressure is recorded by two numbers: systole and diastole:
- Systolic blood pressure (the first and most significant number) indicates the pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries (vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body organs) when the heart contracts.
- Diastolic blood pressure (the second and smaller number): This number represents the pressure the blood exerts on the walls of the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.
For example, suppose a person’s blood pressure is 140 over 90 or 140/90 mmHg. In that case, the systolic pressure is 140 mmHg, and the diastolic pressure is 90 mmHg.
Which number is more important?
Age plays a significant role in blood pressure changes. Typically, systolic blood pressure (the first number) is given more attention as the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people over 50. In most people, systolic blood pressure gradually increases with age, which is due to the gradual hardening of the walls of the large arteries, the growth of plaque (the accumulation of fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances in the blood in the walls of the arteries), and the increase in the incidence of heart diseases and vascular diseases in older age.
However, elevated systolic or diastolic blood pressure are both criteria for diagnosing high blood pressure. According to recent studies, the risk of death from stroke and ischemic heart disease (impaired blood supply to the heart muscle) in people aged 40 to 89 years, for every 20 mm Hg increase in systolic pressure or 10 mm Hg increase in diastolic pressure, Doubles.
Standard blood pressure measurement unit
The blood pressure measurement unit is millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Mercury was used in the first accurate sphygmomanometers and is still a standard pressure measurement unit in medicine today.
When should we control our blood pressure?
The only way to diagnose high blood pressure is to measure blood pressure. The correct interpretation of the results of this measurement is the key to controlling high blood pressure.
Most of the time, blood pressure is measured as part of a routine medical examination.
Measuring blood pressure is an important part of assessing the health status of each person, so it is better for each of us to know when to measure our blood pressure:
- Regular blood pressure checks, even for those with normal blood pressure, are a proactive step towards maintaining our health. Individuals aged 18 and older with no risk factors for heart disease should consider having their blood pressure measured at least once every two to five years.
- People aged 40 and above, as well as people at risk of high blood pressure at any age, such as people with obesity, should check their blood pressure every year.
- Patients with chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, must measure their blood pressure at shorter intervals.
How do you prepare for pressure measurement?
Measuring blood pressure with a sphygmomanometer is a simple, quick, and usually painless process, designed to help us monitor and maintain our health.
Usually, no special preparation is required to control blood pressure. But the following may help the doctor to make a more accurate assessment of our blood pressure:
- Do not smoke, exercise, or drink caffeinated beverages 30 minutes to an hour before the measurement. These things increase heart rate and blood pressure.
- It is better to wear a thin or short-sleeved shirt so the blood pressure cuff can be placed around our arm more easily.
- Sit quietly on the chair for at least five minutes.
- Inform the doctor about our medicines; some drugs may affect blood pressure.
To measure blood pressure, it is better to lean on the back of the chair and not put the legs on each other. The arm around which the sphygmomanometer cuff is placed should be supported at the heart level on the cushion or chair arm. It is also better to be calm and not talk during the measurement.
Normal and abnormal blood pressure
As a general guide:
- Ideal blood pressure is between 90/60 and less than 120/80 mm Hg.
- A blood pressure of 140.90 mm Hg or higher is considered high, and a pressure of less than 90.60 mm Hg is considered low.
Low blood pressure is less common. Lowering blood pressure may be a side effect of some medications. Also, some disorders, including heart failure (when the heart does not pump enough blood for the body’s needs) and dehydration (due to reasons such as low fluid intake, excessive sweating, or diarrhea), may cause low blood pressure.
We must note that the doctor must confirm the diagnosis of high blood pressure. The doctor will also evaluate any shallow blood pressure.
The five blood pressure ranges based on the American Heart Association classification are:
- normal
Blood pressure numbers less than 120.80 mmHg are considered normal. If our results fall into this category, we should follow heart-healthy habits such as a balanced diet and regular exercise.
- increased
When systolic blood pressure consistently falls between 129 and 129 and diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mmHg, blood pressure is considered elevated. People with high blood pressure are at risk of developing high blood pressure, and the necessary measures to modify their lifestyle should be considered to control this condition.
- Stage 1 high blood pressure
Stage 1 high blood pressure is when the systolic blood pressure is 130-139 or the diastolic blood pressure is continuously 80-89 mm Hg. At this stage, in addition to lifestyle modification, the doctor may also prescribe blood pressure-lowering drugs based on each person’s risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack or stroke.
- Stage 2 high blood pressure
Stage 2 hypertension occurs when blood pressure consistently rises to 140/90 mmHg or higher. At this stage, the doctor prescribes a combination of blood pressure-lowering drugs and lifestyle modification.
- High blood pressure crisis
This stage of high blood pressure requires medical intervention. If blood pressure suddenly exceeds 180/120 mm Hg, we measure it again after five minutes. Call your doctor or emergency room immediately if it is still abnormally high.
Suppose you have blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg and symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath, pain in the back and between the shoulders, numbness or weakness, impaired vision, or difficulty speaking. In that case, you should not wait for the pressure to drop. We must call the emergency room immediately.
Normal blood pressure in children and adolescents
According to the instructions of the Ministry of Health and Medicine, blood pressure assessment is part of the annual physical examination after three years of age and in children under three years of age, except in exceptional cases such as a history of premature birth (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), meager birth weight (less than 1500 grams) or the need to be hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit, suffering from congenital heart disease, etc. is not necessary.
Due to its complexity, blood pressure measurement in children and teenagers is best done only by a doctor. Using an armband with the right size increases the accuracy of the measurement. The blood pressure status in this age group is determined based on the tables based on the age, gender, and height of the child or teenager available to the doctor.
Finally, we must remember that getting older does not necessarily mean having high blood pressure, and the effects of age on high blood pressure are minimal. High blood pressure can often be prevented or controlled by eating healthy, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol, and not smoking.