What Does 125 Over 85 Blood Pressure Mean?
If you've recently had your blood pressure checked and the reading came back as 125 over 85, you may be wondering what that means. Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure (the top number) measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, while the diastolic pressure (the bottom number) measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats.
A blood pressure reading of 125 over 85 falls within the range of what is considered to be "prehypertension." This means that your blood pressure is higher than normal, but not yet high enough to be considered hypertension, or high blood pressure. While prehypertension may not pose an immediate health risk, it can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure in the future.
Causes of Prehypertension
There are many factors that can contribute to prehypertension, including:
- Smoking
- Being overweight or obese
- Lack of physical activity
- Eating a diet high in sodium and low in potassium
- Stress
- Family history of high blood pressure
- Age (blood pressure tends to increase as you get older)
If you have prehypertension, making lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, losing weight, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet can help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing hypertension.
Treatment for Prehypertension
In addition to lifestyle changes, there are also medications that can be prescribed to help lower blood pressure. However, because prehypertension is not yet considered hypertension, medication is not usually the first line of treatment. Instead, doctors will typically recommend lifestyle changes to help lower blood pressure.
Risks of Prehypertension
While prehypertension may not pose an immediate health risk, it can increase your risk of developing hypertension, which can lead to serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease. In addition, having prehypertension can also increase your risk of developing other health problems such as diabetes and sleep apnea.
Preventing Prehypertension
The best way to prevent prehypertension is to practice healthy lifestyle habits such as:
- Quitting smoking
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Eating a healthy diet that is low in sodium and high in potassium
- Managing stress
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Getting regular blood pressure checks
If you have prehypertension, it's important to work with your doctor to develop a plan to lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of developing hypertension and other health problems.
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