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Article by: Shawleen
Blood pressure is the pressure of blood pushing against the walls of arteries which carry blood away from the heart to all parts of our bodies. It is normal for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day but it mustn’t be too high or too low from a set level of 120/80 mmHg (120 over 80). The number 120 represents the systolic blood pressure; which is the blood pressure while our heart beats and the number 80 represents the diastolic blood pressure; which is the blood pressure of when the heart rests between beats.
When going to the doctors, they usually start by measuring our blood pressure using a sphygmomanometer to get a reading that helps them identify any of the risks relating to high or low blood pressure.
Hypertension
High blood pressure which raises risks of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. So far when diagnosing it, blood pressure must be 130/80 mmHg or higher. Usually, it is hard to know if you have high blood pressure because it barely comes with any symptoms.
The cause of high blood pressure is uncertain but depends on:
Lack of physical activity in one's daily life
If the person has obesity or diabetes
Pregnancy
Due to high blood pressure, important organs like our kidneys, heart, brain, and eyes are said to be at risk of damage but it is likely to be managed with medication such as Calcium channel blockers, Propranolol
Hypotension
Low blood pressure occurs when the blood pressure reading is below 90/60 mmHg, this is called absolute hypotension while another type is orthostatic hypotension, which is when after standing up too quickly, your blood pressure stays low for longer than three minutes. In addition, fast decreases in blood pressure mean parts of your body aren’t getting enough blood flow which can be dangerous. Unlike hypertension, signs of hypotension come
with various symptoms ranging from tiredness to dizziness while signs include lighter skin color to low urine output.
It is crucial to monitor your blood pressure if you’re told to do so by your doctor and if you need to check it occasionally. Eating healthy and exercising regularly is the key to preventing your blood pressure from deviating into its highs and lows.
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