What is blood pressure and what is considered normal? Blood pressure is how strong the pressure is of the blood flowing through your arteries.
It shouldn’t be too strong, or too low it needs to be mid range or what is considered ‘normal’.
The normal blood pressure range of any person is considered to be 120/80 mmHg – 120 (systolic blood pressure) over 80 (diastolic blood pressure).
That number is supposed to be even lower in most cases where the patient has suffered previous health conditions such as a stroke or heart problem. Kidney issues can also result in your need for lower blood pressure readings.
Recent studies of the American Heart Association, however, have revealed that this may not actually the best number for a normal blood pressure reading. Instead, the acceptable reading should be less than 120 over less than 80.
Along with this change in the norm when it comes to healthy blood pressure, the American Heart Association has also adjusted the ranges for high blood pressure or hypertension, and low blood pressure or hypotension.
If your blood pressure isn’t right, those numbers begin to change. Once you get to the 140/90 range, your doctor will diagnose you as having high blood pressure and urge you to make changes.
There’s a range in between 120/80 and 140/90 that’s known as pre-hypertension. That just means you’re teetering dangerously close to having full-blown high blood pressure.
All these changes have been made because of the reinforced discovery that unhealthy blood pressure levels increase the risk of heart attack, blacking out, or even organ failure.
What Is Blood Pressure?
To better understand why it is so important to have normal blood pressure, you should learn the basics first, like what is blood pressure in the first place. As your heart pumps blood throughout the different parts of your body, the flow exerts a force against the walls of your veins and arteries.
Children generally have lower blood pressure than adults, and it is perfectly normal for one’s blood pressure to increase with age.
A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers, the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. The systolic pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the arteries while the heart is pumping blood, while the diastolic pressure is the force exerted when the heart is at rest.
You can get a reading of your blood pressure by using a sphygmomanometer.
The best way to have normal blood pressure is to eat a healthy, balanced diet and to avoid foods that are too high in fat content. Regular exercise is also good so that you can keep your body in excellent physical condition.
It is would also help if you can avoid being in stressful situations as stress considerably increases one’s heart rate and blood pressure.
An important thing you need to understand about blood pressure is that it can fluctuate over time. In fact, your blood pressure changes several times even in a 24-hour period. So just because you get a good reading today doesn’t necessarily mean that you will always have a normal blood pressure everyday.
If you want to keep your blood pressure normal, make sure you continue positive lifestyle practices. It is also advisable to monitor your blood pressure periodically so that you can take action at the slightest sign of trouble.
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