The Importance Of Measuring Blood Pressure
The following extract is from a series of heart fitness articles and videos about blood pressure …
It seems that the subject of blood pressure is often talked about and while most people know it’s important, not as many are clear about what it is and how or why high or low blood pressure really affects your health and wellbeing.
Blood is constantly being moved throughout the body via the blood vessels and arteries. Blood pressure measures the force of the blood pushing against your artery walls as it passes through them.
Every time the heart beats, which is about 60 to 70 times per minute for the average, healthy person when at rest, it pumps blood out through the arteries which then carry it to every area of your body.
Your blood pressure reading is at its highest when the heart beats and pushes out blood. This is known as the systolic blood pressure. In between the beats your heart is at rest and the pressure in your arteries falls, this is referred to as the diastolic blood pressure reading.
Blood pressure measurements are always presented as a pair of numbers which represent the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, which are both important measurements. These numbers are often written as one before the other separated with a slash, such as 110/75 mmHg. The first number, also called the top number, is the systolic reading. The second number, or bottom number, is the reading for the diastolic measurement.
When this pair of numbers is recorded, the systolic blood pressure measurement is recorded first followed by the diastolic measurement and when speaking of these measurements, it is common to say “my blood pressure is 110 over 75″ and is recorded as 110/75.
Your blood pressure changes throughout the day depending on what you are doing, your levels of stress and your emotional states. It will be at its lowest while at rest, especially when sleeping and rises during the day. If you spend much of your time sitting down or standing up it will remain fairly stable throughout the day.
The ideal blood pressure level is under 120/80. When the measurements stay consistently high, such as at the point of 140/90, then you are regarded as having high blood pressure. This is a health concern because this state causes the heart to work harder, which will place stress on the arteries. It also raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney problems, such as kidney stones and kidney failure.
One common question many people have is, what causes high blood pressure? Unfortunately, the answer is not simple and straightforward for many people because a single, specific cause cannot be pinpointed. This is known as primary or essential high blood pressure and there is ongoing research to learn more about the causes.
However, for others the condition is known to be a result of a particular medical problem they have or is caused by a medication they are taking. In these conditions, this is known as secondary high blood pressure.
The blood pressure readings provide you, your doctor and your health care provider important details about your health condition today, as well as clues into possible future problems you might experience. This is why it’s so important to keep an eye on your pressure and be sure to consult with your physician if it is consistently above 140/90.
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