Every time you go to the doctor or hospital, one of the first things that they will check is your blood pressure. And while you may recognize this as a part of your medical care routine, you might not really give much thought to the readings or any fluctuations that may occur. However, there are many things you should keep in mind about your blood pressure, particularly if your blood pressure readings are high. Learn some of the facts you should know about high blood pressure. Then, you can be sure that you are monitoring your blood pressure properly and taking the best possible care of your health.
Anything Over 120/80 Is Considered Elevated
When it comes to your blood pressure readings, it is important to know what is considered to be a healthy blood pressure and what is not. The general rule is that a blood pressure reading below 120/80 is normal. It is possible to have low blood pressure if your pressure falls below 90/60 as well.
For readings over 120/80, there are different levels of concern essentially. Between 120 and 129 systolic over 80 or lower diastolic is considered elevated. When the blood pressure is elevated in this range, it could be because of stress or anxiety, caffeine intake, or other transitory factors. Consistently elevated blood pressure may be cause for some concern, though.
However, your blood pressure is not considered "high" until it reaches between 130 and 139 over 80 to 89. These readings, if they occur more than once or twice, will likely lead to a diagnosis of hypertension. And if for some reason your blood pressure goes up to 180/120 or higher, you are in hypertensive crisis, meaning your life is in grave danger.
Hypertension Can Be a Sign of Serious Problems
While most people think that high blood pressure is an isolated condition or even that it is not necessarily a big deal, hypertension can be a sign of serious health conditions. This can include heart disease, kidney problems, and thyroid issues. When a person is in a hypertensive crisis, they are at elevated risk of stroke or heart attack and the blood pressure crisis can be a warning sign of one of these two issues.
Elevated and High Blood Pressure Should Be Addressed as Soon as Possible
You should not dismiss or ignore high blood pressure readings when you see them. When your blood pressure is consistently above the norm, the time to act is right away. Elevated blood pressure or mid-level hypertension is a lot easier to deal with than extremely high blood pressure or a hypertensive crisis.
When your blood pressure is moderately high, simple changes like adjustments to your diet, quitting smoking, and increased physical activity can oftentimes lower your blood pressure to normal levels. You may even be able to avoid going on blood pressure medication completely (or only go on it temporarily). Blood pressure that is extremely high will need to be managed with medications and regular appointments with your doctor to monitor the effectiveness of the medications.
And if your blood pressure issues lead to heart disease and extensive cardiovascular damage, you may need to get more extensive cardiology services including surgeries to implant stents or a pacemaker, among other procedures. Act as soon as you notice a blood pressure issue, and you can potentially prevent major complications going into the future.
Now that you know some of the important facts about high blood pressure, you can be sure you keep an eye on those blood pressure readings going forward. For more information, contact a company like Temecula Valley Cardiology today.
Share30 January 2019
I am a mother of four wonderful children, and like other parents, I have been to my fair share of health care clinics. It seems like my children are always getting scrapes and coming down with colds. When I was a new parent, I never knew whether I should take my injured or ill child to the emergency room or local urgent care facility. I received some simple advice from a seasoned parent that made my decisions easier that I want to pass onto all new parents, along with other health tips I've learned. he told me that she tended to take her children to the ER when they were bleeding or had very high temperatures and took them to the local urgent care for any other problem. I have followed her advice ever since, and my children remain healthy and happy!
