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10 General information about blood pressure
Blood circulation
The blood circulation is responsible for supplying the body with oxygen. Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the arteries.
The systolic blood pressure value (higher pressure or top value) represents the blood pressure produced by contraction of the heart muscle.
The diastolic blood pressure value (lower pressure or lower value) represents the blood pressure produced by relaxation of the heart muscle.
Classification of blood pressure
Health and blood pressure
The incidence of hypertension increases with age. In addition, a lack of exercise, excess body fat and high levels of cholesterol (LDL), which sticks to the inside in blood vessels, reduces elasticity of these vessels.
Hypertension accelerates arterial sclerosis which can lead to very serious conditions such as stroke and myocardial infarction. For these reasons it is very important to know whether the blood pressure is within a healthy range. Blood pressure fluctuates from minute to minute, throughout the day. Therefore it is essential to take regular measurements to help you identify an average blood pressure.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Inter- national Society of Hypertension (ISH) developed the blood pressure classification. This classification is based on the blood pressure values measured while sitting on a chair in the outpatient department of a hospital.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
High blood pressure can go unnoticed for a long time, since it does not cause noticeable symptoms. The following are all possible causes of abnormally high blood pressure:
•Overweight
•High cholesterol level
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg)
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| Severe hypertension |
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180 |
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160 |
| Moderate hypertension |
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| Mild hypertension |
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140 |
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| Normal systolic value |
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130 | Normal blood |
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120 | pressure |
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| Optimal blood |
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| Diastolic | |
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80 | 85 | 90 | 100 | 110 | ||||
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According to the blood pressure classification by the WHO/ISH.
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