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Health > Your Health > Health Checks > Blood pressure for dummies

Blood pressure for dummies

12th Oct 2012

What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body. Your blood pressure changes all the time, depending on what you are doing, your overall health, and even the air temperature.

How can I tell what my blood pressure is?
It is impossible to tell if you have high or low blood pressure without measuring it. There are no external signs of high blood pressure, and the symptoms of low blood pressure are quite general. To tell if your blood pressure is healthy you will need to go to your doctor and ask him or her to measure it for you.

How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure is measured by wrapping an inflatable pressure cuff around your upper arm. The cuff is attached to a machine called a sphygmomanometer, which measures your blood pressure through the cuff. The best way to get an accurate blood pressure reading is to take it while you are relaxed and sitting or lying down.

What do all the numbers mean?
Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, for example 120/80. This is read out as “120 over 80”. The larger number is called your systolic blood pressure. This refers to the pressure in your arteries as your heart pushes the blood through on each beat. The smaller number is called your diastolic blood pressure, and this is the pressure in your arteries as the heart relaxes before the next beat.

Is my blood pressure healthy?
There is no ‘ideal’ blood pressure reading, however, the following clinical classifications for blood pressure in adults can be useful.

Normal
Generally less than 120/80
High-normal
Between 120/80 and 139/89
Mild high
Between 140/90 and 159/99
Moderate high
between 160/100 and 179/109
Severe high
Equal to or greater than 180/110

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tezziem@gmail.com
12th Oct 2012
4:50pm

with all that reading, when should one start taking maintenance tablets. And will the home
blood pressure monitor accurate. Is it worth having one

HOLA
12th Oct 2012
6:09pm

I think it is good to have a blood pressure monitor at home. I take it sometimes morning and evening. I have suffered with high blood pressure a number of years now, Mum,Dad and my sisters all have high blood pressure. I recently had a triple by-pass operation and at last my blood pressure seems to be more manageable, although when I get stressful, up she goes. I take one tablet a day and walk every day which the doctor said is very good for me.

Londoner
12th Oct 2012
6:59pm

I'm a Type 2 Diabetic and have had an angioplasty carried out 18 months ago so keeping an eye on my blood pressure is a good idea but in any case I'd agree with Hola that everyone should have a blood pressure monitor at home. I've got two, one automatic and the other semi-automatic.
It's a known fact that ones blood pressure increases when it's taken by a clinician so keeping your own records might prove beneficial when discussing readings with a doctor.

A good source of information about the heart can be found on the British Heart Foundation website http://www.bhf.org.uk

Huskie
12th Oct 2012
8:07pm

This article is entirely misleading, There is no such thing as "normal" blood pressure. Current research indicates that "normal" blood pressure is dependent to an individual and is largely based on genetics i.e your blood pressure is your blood pressure and cannot be related or compared to others. Remember that there are lies, dam lies and statistics!!

I am a Type 2 diabetic and have (according to the medico's) "high" blood pressure yet eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, I have 4 siberian huskies that need to run, and run, and run, and run, etc. and Doctors would go bankrupt if they relied on my fees.
During the summer I climb a 40 metre vertical climb to a lookout to watch for bush fires. I manage that in 6 minutes with no rests. The doctor (visibly overweight) that examined me for that task admitted that they could not do that in that time, yet told me to get my blood pressure down! = Physician heal thyself!!

Huskie
12th Oct 2012
8:08pm

Forgot to add that I am 64 years young!!

Londoner
12th Oct 2012
8:26pm

I don't think you're right in saying that the article is entirely misleading as it gives a general guide to blood pressure but,as you pointed out, there is no such thing as a 'normal' blood pressure. However clinicians use the figure of 140/80 as a benchmark.
What I'm surprised about is if you're a Type 2 Diabetic why aren't you on a tablet to control your blood pressure and if your doctor is telling you that you're still too high why isn't he doing something about it.
As I pointed out, ones blood pressure will usually rise when it's taken by a clinician, so perhaps an investment in your own meter might seem a good idea.

Huskie
12th Oct 2012
9:16pm

Sorry Londoner but to say that clinicians use 140/80 as a benchmark reinforces my argument that the benchmark should be your blood pressure not a statistical average. I have my own meter and have monitored my blood pressure using an upper arm cuff tor over 15 years and it remains consistent. I contend that my blood pressure was not "too high" I was on tablets to reduce the pressure but they caused me to become giddy, nauseous and disorientated so, after discussion with my GP I discontinued them and am still here and living well.
Eat healthy! Breathe clean air! A dollar spent on clean food saves a dollar at the Doctors

gustacian
12th Oct 2012
8:38pm

I am on medication for high blood pressure. I have it checked for free every week at one of about half a dozen chemists in our city that offer blood pressure checks. It takes only a few minutes, costs nothing and allows you to keep tabs on what's happening with your pressure. It's recorded on a little card and when I go to the doctor's next time he can see straight away how I'm going.

Londoner
12th Oct 2012
9:01pm

Well that's a terrific alternative to taking your readings at home. Blood pressure readings should be taken after resting for around 5 minutes to give an accurate result (they say).

Londoner
12th Oct 2012
10:08pm

All tablets can have side effects, Huskie, and sometimes it's a matter of 'trial and error' until ones that work without too many problems are found and I'm surprised that your GP didn't explore these avenues. Or maybe you wouldn't let the doctor try.
With respect, I feel your argument about using what YOU consider to be your normal blood pressure as the basis of assessing whether you have high blood pressure or not defies belief and clearly is not the same opinion as your doctor holds.
However, I accept that it's up to you whether you accept medical advise or not and I wish you a long life.

Daphne
12th Oct 2012
10:16pm

Thank you for de-mystifying the figiures in blood pressure readings. Please give us similar explanations about cholesterol. It is difficult to find something that is understood by lay people.

Londoner
13th Oct 2012
6:45pm

Apologies for the slow reply, which is due to the time differences.
Perhaps the following website might answer your questions:

http://heartuk.org.uk/

gfm6
12th Oct 2012
11:56pm

There must be something to the point about resting for 5 minutes before testing. Every time I do a test in a pharmacy the first reading is through the roof, but the third one is usually not too bad.
On another points it's been said that some pharmacies don't service their equipment and calibrate it like they should so aren't necessarily all that accurate.

April57
13th Oct 2012
7:42am

If you have a home BP kit why dont you take it with you when you visit your GP and compare the two readings, his/hers and from yours! You would get a very good idea then of its accuracy.

HOLA
13th Oct 2012
1:24pm

My Doctor usually takes my B.P. at each visit. I might add that his office is at the top of a long slope and the B.P.reading is usually high, and then he has the hide to ask me why? He has never taken it after resting for a while. I would rather trust my own test kit.

Nan Norma
26th Dec 2012
4:27pm

Hola. Don't you ever have to sit and wait to see your doctor? I know I always have to wait at least fifteen minutes.

April57
13th Oct 2012
2:37pm

Sounds like, unlike my doctor, he is always on time! If you had to wait for 20 minutes past your appt. time then your BP would definitely give a better reading!

robnlee
13th Oct 2012
4:29pm

I sit at home in trembling trepidation waiting for the inevitable stroke to carry me off. I have a home monitor and most readings come in around 155/90. Concerned doctors (is there such a beast?) then put me on medication which lowers the pressure to 140/80 and I keep blacking out, particularly in summer after activities such as gardening. I saw a cardiac specialist for a couple of years until I could no longer afford the visits and tests and he was more concerned about the low symptoms that the high readings. (Actually, I think he was more concerned about the money as he offered no alternatives to keeping me as a patient!) So what is the real picture? Is it better for me to have "normal" blood pressure and dizzy spells created by high medication or is there too much importance put in to "high" readings? I am 182 cm, weigh 80 kg, cycle and garden, walk etc, am 67 years old. All very confusing! I think the best answer is - Bring on the stroke and end the uncertainty!

Londoner
13th Oct 2012
6:36pm

Clearly there's something wrong that needs to be sorted out. Perhaps you should see another doctor and/or another cardiac specialist.

Boof
14th Oct 2012
6:25pm

Most important, If a pateint has a hig reading of Blood pressure. DO NOT LIE THEM DOWN FLAT. Elevated their head and shoulders. If you lie them down flat you can cause a massive HEART ATTACK. (Reason, The high level of bloos pressue will immdiately follow the easy path to the heart abd cause a MASSIVE explosion to that organ and cause istant death.
John Airey Kirra. 55 99 3243

Tom Tank
26th Dec 2012
2:05pm

Given that the bulk of research on blood pressure is carried out by, or on behalf of, drug companies we should all be a little careful in taking their word about what is normal or high. Anytime there is a vested interest involved caution about blind acceptance should be the norm. That is not to say that we should not care for our health but we are all individuals and what is normal in our case is not necessarily normal for everyone.

pineapplesage
27th Dec 2012
9:20am

It isn't correct to say that high blood pressure has no symptoms - as the header for this article claims. Anyone who suffers from high blood pressure is very familiar with the distressing symptoms.

Daphne
27th Dec 2012
10:22am

Thank you all for sharing the many useful tips.

BigVal
27th Dec 2012
12:11pm

Do some research on both BP and cholesterol as both are flavour of the month for handing out more and more pills. One time the bench mark for BP was your age+100 over 90. Now 120/80 or for over 65 140/90.

And one time cholesterol wasn't even mentioned it was hardened arteries caused by eating too much animal fat.

If your doc says it is too high on latest blood tests ask for a read out. should take the good from the bad to see the old bench mark which was 3.5 now 4.00 for the whole lot put together and the blood test is not individual to you but a one fits all etc. He should also put you on a diet and exercise before dishing out the statin pills as they have nasty side effects for most after a while like vomiting +stomach pains mostly.

Do your own re-search - Local library and/or internet.

Recently the British Government were contemplating putting all over 50 on BP meds. Blooming heck how much in donations from the drug companies one should ask was handed over for that - haven't heard it taking effect nor should it so common sense still over there anyway.

Cynical yes as money is the driving force today instead of the public good. We all have to look out for ourselves no longer can we rely on our governments being there for us like we grew up doing.

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Tags: seniors health, blood pressure, high blood presser, hypertension, low blood pressure, hypotension, healthy blood pressure, lower blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease