What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is only classed as high if it doesn’t go down when you rest. Permanently raised blood pres- sure can be caused by several factors such as hardening of the arteries, smoking or drinking too much alcohol. It can also be caused by cholesterol,
a type of fat, building up inside your blood vessels and making them narrower. Being under stress can add to the problem.
High blood pressure is also known to run in families hence if you find you have a high blood pressure it is a good idea to test other closely related members of your
family.
Fluctuation within a Day
200 |
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150 |
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100 |
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| Systolic | |
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| Blood Pressure | ||
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| Arriving | Discussion |
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| Diastolic | |
| Get- | Argument | Leaving the |
| Blood Pressure | |||
50 | at the | on the |
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ting up | Company | Telephone | in a Meeting | Company | Dinner | Sleep | ||
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| 6AM |
| 12 |
| 6PM |
| 12 | |
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| Morning |
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| Afternoon |
| Evening | |
Why is it a Good Thing To Measure Blood Pressure at Home?
Having your blood pressure measured by a doctor can cause anxiety which is a cause itself of high blood pressure. As a variety of conditions affect blood pressure, a single measurement may not be sufficient for an accurate diagnosis.
The blood pressure measured first thing in the morning after getting up, before eating and while at rest, is known as the fundamental blood pressure. In practice it is rather difficult to record the fundamental blood pressure, but it is important to get readings in an environment that is as close as possible to this.
Classification of Blood Pressure by the
World Heath Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Society if Hypertention (ISH) devolloped the Blood Pressure Classification shown in this figure.
This classification is based on theon the blood presure values measured on persons in sitting position in outpatiënt departments of hospitals.
*There is no universally accepted definition of hypotension. However, those
having the systolic pressure below 100 mmHg are assumed as hypotension.
Systolic blood pressure
(mmHg) |
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| Severe hypertension | ||
180 |
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| Moderate hypertension |
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160 |
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| Mild hypertension |
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140 |
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Nomal systoric value |
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130 |
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Nomal blood pressure |
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120 |
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Optimal biood |
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| Diastoric |
pressure |
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| blood |
(target value) |
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| pressure |
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| (mmHg) |
80 | 85 | 90 | 100 | 110 |
According to the blood pressure classification by the WHO/ISH* (revised in 1999)
* International Society of Hypertension
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