Health Network News

Every time you visit your doctor, one of the things that is being done to you in order to determine your condition is check your blood pressure. To measure your blood pressure, your upper arm will be wrapped with an inflatable cuff. The cuff will then be inflated to temporarily cut off blood circulation and allow the blood to slowly flow back. This lets the person taking your blood pressure monitor the sounds as the blood flows through the arteries. Although your blood pressure changes from time to time, it is important to always maintain a good blood pressure. In other words, maintain a blood pressure reading below 120/80 for those in their 20s and above.

To some people, a blood pressure is just numbers. But for those who are health conscious, it is helpful if you understand what the numbers mean and why it’ is very important to regularly monitor it. By knowing your blood pressure and knowing what good blood pressure is, you will be able to prevent future and more serious heart-related diseases along with other complications of high blood pressure. Fatty deposits build-up in the arteries can cause an abnormal increase in your blood pressure, which causes the heart to extra work by pumping harder in order to supply enough blood to other parts of the body. This extra work will cause the heart muscle to enlarge and weaken. High blood pressure if left untreated will result to heart failure, even death.

So, what does the blood pressure reading mean? A blood pressure reading is given in a fraction form. The top number represents the systolic pressure, which is actually the pressure inside your blood vessel. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure, which is the blood pressure when your heart is at rest in between heart beats. As mentioned above, a good blood pressure is 120/80 and if the numbers increase of up to 139/89, this is considered as prehypertension state.

However, don’t freak out if your initial blood pressure result is more than 120/80. You need to know that there are factors affecting one’s blood pressure. Usually, your doctor will regularly check and monitor you blood pressure for a specific period of time to establish an average rate. This is to consider other possibilities that could affect the result of your blood pressure such as physical activities, smoking, sleeping patters, alcohol consumption, etc…

It has been known that one of the leading causes of death is related to heart diseases, including high blood pressure. Not to mention that this condition is a silent killer. Therefore, if you think you have or are diagnosed with this high blood pressure, seek immediate medical advice to maintain a good blood pressure. There are actually available treatments to regulate high blood pressure. A change of lifestyle, regular exercise, and keeping a healthy diet can greatly help in regulating your blood pressure.

For people in their 30s and above, have your blood pressure regularly checked. This is the least you can do to prevent from developing hypertension. Maintaining a good blood pressure will definitely let you enjoy a healthy life to the fullest.