Blood Pressure
To many of us, the numbers our doctor gives when taking our
blood pressure mean little.
We just want to know whether our blood pressure is in a healthy
bracket. But what is blood pressure and what do those measurements
mean?
Podcast
What is blood pressure?
Put simply, blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your
arteries. Your heart is your body’s main pump and
it pushes blood through your arteries by contracting and relaxing.
When it contracts, it forces blood through your arteries and pushes
the pressure of the blood to the highest point – the
systolic pressure. When your heart relaxes between
beats, your blood pressure is at its lowest – its
diasystolic pressure.
The two pressures are written as two numbers, with the higher
pressure first. So, if your blood pressure reads 120/80 mmHg
(millimetres of mercury), this means your systolic – or upper
– pressure is 120, and your diasystolic – or lower – pressure is
80. Ideally, your blood pressure show be below 140/85 but if
you’ve had a heart
attack, stroke, have diabetes or diagnosed with
coronary heart disease,
your blood pressure should be below 130/80. You should have your
blood pressure measured so that you know what your normal reading
is.
What is high blood pressure?
High blood pressure – or hypertension – means
that your blood pressure is constantly higher than the recommended
level. High blood pressure rarely has any symptoms, so while you
might feel well, over time your heart may become abnormally large
and beat less effectively. High blood pressure also increases your
risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
There isn’t always an explanation for the cause of high
blood pressure, but the following can play a part:
- Inactivity
- Being overweight
- Eating too much salt
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Not eating enough fruit and vegetables
- A family history of high blood pressure.
What can I do to reduce my blood pressure?
If your doctor says you have high blood pressure,
he/she is likely to encourage you to make some lifestyle changes to
help reduce it. They may include:
- Increasing your physical activity
- Keeping to a healthy weight
- Reducing the salt in your diet
- Cutting down on alcohol
- Eating a balanced, healthy diet.
If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor is likely to
prescribe medication to control
it and to protect your heart.
Even if you don't have high blood pressure, making the lifestyle
changes suggested above may prevent you developing it in the
future.
More information
You can learn more about blood pressure by downloading our
Blood pressure booklet from our Publications
section, available in five languages.
Other organisations:
Visit the Blood Pressure Association’s
website.
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