Blood Pressure: Understanding What It Is

Blood pressure is a term that we often hear from medical professionals, but do we really understand what it means? In simple terms, blood pressure is the force exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries. It is important to have a healthy blood pressure level as high blood pressure can lead to serious health problems like heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Types of Blood Pressure

There are two types of blood pressure: systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart beats and pumps blood out. Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart is at rest between beats.

When your blood pressure is measured, it is recorded as two numbers. The first number is your systolic blood pressure, and the second number is your diastolic blood pressure. For example, if your blood pressure is 120/80, 120 is your systolic blood pressure, and 80 is your diastolic blood pressure.

How Blood Pressure is Measured

Blood pressure is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer. This device consists of an inflatable cuff, a pressure gauge, and a stethoscope. To measure your blood pressure, the cuff is wrapped around your arm and inflated. The pressure in the cuff is gradually released, and the healthcare provider uses the stethoscope to listen to the sounds of blood flowing through your artery.

The healthcare provider will then record your systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. This process usually takes a few minutes and is painless.

What is Considered Normal Blood Pressure?

A normal blood pressure reading is usually around 120/80 mmHg. However, blood pressure can vary depending on a person's age, gender, and overall health. If your blood pressure is consistently higher than 120/80 mmHg, you may be diagnosed with high blood pressure.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including:

• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Smoking
• High salt intake
• Stress
• Family history
• Chronic kidney disease
• Thyroid disorders

While some of these risk factors cannot be controlled, others can be managed with lifestyle changes.

How to Lower High Blood Pressure

If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure, there are several things you can do to lower it, including:

• Losing weight if you are overweight
• Exercising regularly
• Reducing your salt intake
• Quitting smoking
• Managing stress
• Taking medication prescribed by your healthcare provider

It is important to work with your healthcare provider to develop a plan to manage your high blood pressure.

The Bottom Line

Blood pressure is an important aspect of our overall health, and it is important to understand what it is and how it can affect our bodies. By monitoring our blood pressure regularly and making lifestyle changes when necessary, we can reduce our risk of developing serious health problems.