ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE

What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts; diastolic pressure occurs when the heart expands. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

What Affects Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is affected by many factors: age, weight, time of day, activity level, climate, altitude and season. Certain activities can significantly alter blood pressure. Walking can raise systolic pressure by 12 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 5.5 mmHg. Sleeping can decrease systolic blood pressure by as much as 10 mmHg. Taking your blood pressure repeatedly without waiting an interval of at least 3 minutes between readings can also affect it.

In addition to these factors, beverages containing caffeine or alcohol, certain medications, emotional stress and even tight-fitting clothes can make a difference in the readings.

What Causes Variations In Blood Pressure? An individual’s blood pressure varies greatly from day to day and season to season. In hypersensitive individuals, these variations are even more pronounced. Normally, blood pressure rises during work or play and falls to its lowest levels during sleep.

Fluctuation within a day (case: 35 year old male)

ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE

Assessing High Blood Pressure

The following standards for assessing high blood pressure (without regard to age) have been established as a guideline.

BP Classification

Systolic (mmHg)

Diastolic (mmHg)

Normal

<120

and

<80

Prehypertension

120-139

or

80-89

 

 

 

 

Stage 1 Hypertension

140-159

or

90-99

 

 

 

 

Stage 2 Hypertension

≥160

or

≥100

 

 

 

 

SOURCE: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - May 2003.

What Is Hypertension?

Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the diagnosis given when readings consistently rise above normal. It is well known that hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack or other illness if left untreated. Referred to as a “silent killer” because it does not always produce symptoms that alert you to the problem, hypertension is treatable when diagnosed early. Those who fall within the Prehypertensive range are more likely to develop hypertension in the future.

Can Hypertension Be Controlled?

In many individuals, hypertension can be controlled by altering lifestyle and minimizing stress, and by appropriate

200

150

100

50

0

Arising

Telephone

Argument

Leave

Work

Sleep

 

Start Work

 

 

Systolic Blood

Pressure

Diastolic Blood

Pressure

medication prescribed and monitored by your doctor. The American Heart Association recommends the following lifestyle suggestions to prevent or control hypertension:

Don’t smoke.

 

Have regular physical

 

Reduce salt and fat intake.

 

checkups.

Maintain proper weight.

 

Monitor your blood

 

Exercise routinely.

 

pressure at periodic

 

 

intervals.

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LifeSource Health Line (Toll-Free): 1-888-726-9966

 

In Canada (Toll-Free): 1-800-463-5414

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A&D UA-704 manual What Is Blood Pressure?, About Blood Pressure