By taking action to lower your blood pressure, you can help protect yourself against heart disease and stroke, also sometimes called cardiovascular disease CVD.
Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. High Blood Pressure. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes. Minus Related Pages. On This Page. What is blood pressure? What do blood pressure numbers mean? What are normal blood pressure numbers? What is high blood pressure hypertension? What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure? What causes high blood pressure?
What problems does high blood pressure cause? What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure? Our monthly e-newsletter delivers helpful articles and the latest news for heart patients and their families.
By clicking the sign up button you agree to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Elevated Elevated blood pressure is when readings consistently range from systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic. Hypertension Stage 1 Hypertension Stage 1 is when blood pressure consistently ranges from systolic or mm Hg diastolic. Hypertensive crisis This stage of high blood pressure requires medical attention.
Your blood pressure numbers and what they mean Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers: Systolic blood pressure the first number — indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls when the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure the second number — indicates how much pressure your blood is exerting against your artery walls while the heart is resting between beats. Which number is more important?
Why blood pressure is measured in mm Hg The abbreviation mm Hg means millimeters of mercury. Taking your pulse versus checking your blood pressure While both are indications of health, blood pressure and heart rate pulse are two separate measurements.
Systolic is less than and my diastolic is less than 80 Great job! Subscribe today! Email required Email Required. The only way of knowing whether you have high blood pressure is to have a blood pressure test. All adults over 40 are advised to have their blood pressure checked at least every 5 years. You can also check your blood pressure yourself with a home blood pressure monitor.
Find out more about getting a blood pressure test. It's not always clear what causes high blood pressure, but there are things that can increase your risk. Making healthy lifestyle changes can sometimes help reduce your chances of getting high blood pressure and help lower your blood pressure if it's already high. Treating high blood pressure in older adults appears to decrease memory problems and dementia. Stage 2 high blood pressure indicates an even more serious condition.
At this stage, your doctor will recommend one or more medications for keeping your blood pressure under control. Lifestyle habits are just as important in stage 2 as they are in the other stages. Some medications that can complement a healthy lifestyle include:. You should seek emergency treatment if you have blood pressure in this range, which may accompany symptoms such as:. However, sometimes a high reading can occur temporarily and then your numbers will return to normal.
If your blood pressure measures at this level, your doctor will likely take a second reading after a few minutes have passed. Even if you have healthy numbers, you should take preventive measures to keep your blood pressure in the normal range. This can help you lower your risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. As you age, prevention becomes even more important. Certain health conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease , may also play a role.
Talk to your doctor about how you can manage your overall health to help prevent the onset of hypertension. Reduce your sodium intake. Some people are sensitive to the effects of sodium. Adults who already have hypertension may need to limit their sodium intake to 1, mg per day.
Limit processed foods as well. Many of these foods are low in nutritional value while also high in fat and sodium. Reduce your caffeine intake. Talk to your doctor to see if caffeine sensitivity plays a role in your blood pressure readings. Exercise more often. Consistency is key in maintaining a healthy blood pressure reading. Try this gentle yoga routine to lower your blood pressure.
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