If you have ever had a battery of medical tests or had your blood pressure checked, you have no doubt come across those confusing blood pressure numbers that accompany blood pressure tests. The method of obtaining a reading begins when an inflatable cuff is put around ones arm. Air is then pumped to the cuff until blood circulation is cut off; a stethoscope is placed on the cuff, air is slowly let out, the blood begins to flow again and can be heard on the stethoscope. This is the highest pressure of blood flow and is measured by how high it causes a column of mercury to rise in a tube.
At its highest pressure, it can cause mercury to rise up to 120 mm. When the cuff is all empty, the pressure exerted on the cuff is little and at this final point is when we take our measurements for blood flow at rest. Ideally the blood pressure number at this point should be at around 80 mm.
The fraction numbers represent the following: the top number represents systolic blood pressure (while the heart is beating), the lower number represents the diastolic blood pressure (while the heart is at rest).Normal blood pressure numbers settle around 120/80.That is how to read your blood pressure number reading.
For a Medic more than one index is used. The reason for this is that even on a single day you can give more than one recording of blood pressure numbers. This fluctuation may be on account of a chemical agent in the blood stream, the presence of an external pressure agent, one’s body posture and a host of other issues. Similarly, the following factors are important consideration when taking blood pressure numbers:
- One’s Lifestyle
- One ‘s Diet
- One’s Family, Medical History
- One’s Present health
What is a normal Blood Pressure Number?
For your blood pressure numbers to be considered within the normal range, the readings have to be around 120/80. Anything reading that is way below this blood pressure number is deemed to be an immediate health concern. A Blood Pressure Number that is below the normal range can be a symptom of some underlying illness or perfect health. A medic is best qualified to fix this mystery. Low blood pressure by the way is termed as Hypotension. One is considered to have high blood pressure when the blood pressure number is recorded as anything above 140/90. Another term that is used to describe high blood pressure is hypertension.
Hypertension can be classified into three groups hypertension stage one where systolic reading ranges from between 140 – 159 where as diastolic reading ranges from between 90 – 99 ; as such an individual may give a blood pressure number reading such as 140/ 93.
Hypertension stages two where the systolic reading ranges from between 160 – 179 while the diastolic reading may range from between 100 – 109. Thus, the blood pressure number of such a one may read as follows 161/ 101.
Hypertension stage three in comparison is literally considered off the charts of these parameters with the systolic reading being above the 179 value whilst the diastole reading being above the 109 value.
Hypertension is a prevalent health condition that can be completely avoided. In most cases, it affects a person who leads an unhealthy lifestyle. However, a simple change in one’s lifestyle helps to find the answer on how to lower blood pressure naturally. Most importantly, it is essential to dedicate or commit yourself to a healthy lifestyle to lower or prevent blood pressure.
If dealing with the above you do well to steer from the following myths:
- High Blood Pressure numbers increase the risk of heart attack: From recent medical journal the link between heart problems and blood pressure is being strongly contests
- When Hyper Sensitive you have to limit the intake of Sodium Salt in your diet: Rather than Sodium Salt, it is the instability of Potassium, Magnesium, and Sodium that play havoc on our blood stream.
So next time you take the test, you will be in the know what those numbers mean.
