Beta Blockers vs. Calcium Channel Blockers

Blood Pressure Chart: Reading by Age and Gender

Blood pressure is the force applied by the blood over the inner walls of the arteries. Although the average blood pressure for a person remains constant, it shows minor fluctuations throughout the day—declining while relaxing and momentarily increasing while being excited or under stress. An increase in resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.

Why Is My Bottom Blood Pressure Number High?

Isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) occurs when your systolic blood pressure is normal, and only your diastolic blood pressure is high (over 80 mm Hg). Causes of high diastolic blood pressure include a high-sodium diet, obesity, lack of physical activity, excessive alcohol consumption, stress and anxiety.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disease in which pressure within the arteries of the body is elevated. About 75 million people in the US have hypertension (1 in 3 adults), and only half of them are able to manage it. Many people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it often has no has no warning signs or symptoms. Systolic and diastolic are the two readings in which blood pressure is measured. The American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure in 2017. The guidelines now state that blood normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. If either one of those numbers is higher, you have high blood pressure. The American Academy of Cardiology defines high blood pressure slightly differently. The AAC considers 130/80 mm Hg. or greater (either number) stage 1 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is considered 140/90 mm Hg. or greater. If you have high blood pressure you are at risk of developing life threatening diseases like stroke and heart attack.REFERENCE: CDC. High Blood Pressure. Updated: Nov 13, 2017.

How to Lower My Blood Pressure Immediately

If you face any complications of high blood pressure such as a stroke or heart attack, contact your physician without any delay. Do not attempt home remedies in such grave situations. If you have high blood pressure, without any complications, the first thing to do is to calm down and lie flat.

How Can I Lower My Blood Pressure in Minutes?

Learn how to lower your high blood pressure quickly and how to better manage this condition.

What Does it Mean When the Bottom Number of Your Blood Pressure is Over 100?

Diastolic blood pressure (DBP) is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart muscle relaxes between beats. When the bottom number of blood pressure (diastole) is over 100 mmHg, it may be called diastolic hypertension (DHT). Diastolic blood pressure means the blood pressure reading during the phase when your heart relaxes (diastole). Force of the blood against the walls of the arteries (the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other sites) in the body is called blood pressure. The heart pumps the blood into the arteries as it contracts (systole).

What Is Considered Stroke-Level High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are considered stroke-level, dangerously high, and require immediate medical attention.

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)

Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, and fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

How Do You Check Your Blood Pressure With Fingers?

Most doctors recommend the use of a blood pressure machine to check blood pressure. An individual may check heart rate with their fingers, but not blood pressure.

Is 120 Over 60 a Good Blood Pressure Reading?

If your systolic blood pressure is normal (between 100-120), and your diastolic blood pressure is lower (60 or below), you are considered to have low blood pressure, or isolated diastolic hypotension. Low diastolic blood pressure should be monitored closely.

Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Treatment Drugs

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a heart rhythm disorder that causes irregular and often rapid heartbeat. The medications to treat AFib include beta-blockers, blood thinners, and heart rhythm drugs. Atrial fibrillation drugs can cause serious side effects like seizures, vision changes, shortness of breath, fainting, other abnormal heart rhythms, excessive bleeding while coughing or vomiting, blood in the stool, and bleeding into the brain.

What Is the Blood Pressure of a Very Fit Person?

Studies show that a very fit person who exercises regularly will have a lower resting blood pressure (usually below 120/80 mm Hg) than someone who leads a sedentary lifestyle.

How Is Diastolic Hypertension Treated?

Diastolic hypertension, where only your diastolic blood pressure is elevated, may be treated with lifestyle changes such as weight loss, reducing your sodium intake or alcohol consumption, and quitting smoking. Medications may be prescribed in more severe cases.

What Causes Low Diastolic Blood Pressure?

A diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of somewhere between 60 and 90 mm Hg is good in older people. Causes of low DBP include bed rest, dehydration, loss of water, alcohol use, hormone deficiencies, allergic reactions, nutritional deficiencies and prolonged standing leading to blood pooling in the legs.

Hypertension-Related Kidney Disease

Second Source WebMD Medical Reference

Can You Take Turmeric if You Take Blood Pressure Medicine?

Turmeric is one of the most used spices in Asian cuisine. This yellow spice has been hailed for its healing properties for centuries. A turmeric latte is touted for its myriad health benefits. Turmeric contains several anti-inflammatory compounds collectively called curcuminoids.

Which Is More Important: Systolic or Diastolic Blood Pressure?

Systolic blood pressure is often given more attention as a risk factor for heart disease. However, both systolic and diastolic blood pressure are equally important in monitoring the health of your heart.

Which ACE Inhibitor Is the Best for Hypertension?

The best ACE inhibitors for hypertension include Trandolapril, Enalapril, and Ramipril.

What Foods Are Good If You Have Low Blood Pressure?

What is low blood pressure and what causes it? Learn the signs and symptoms of low blood pressure and what you can do to treat it.

Angina

Angina is chest pain due to inadequate blood supply to the heart. Angina symptoms may include chest tightness, burning, squeezing, and aching. Coronary artery disease is the main cause of angina but there are other causes. Angina is diagnosed by taking the patient's medical history and performing tests such as an electrocardiogram (EKG), blood test, stress test, echocardiogram, cardiac CT scan, and heart catheterization. Treatment of angina usually includes lifestyle modification, medication, and sometimes, surgery. The risk of angina can be reduced by following a heart healthy lifestyle.

Migraine Headache

Migraine headache is a type of headache associated with a sensitivity to light, smells, or sounds, eye pain, severe pounding on one side of the head, and sometimes nausea and vomiting. The exact cause of migraine headaches is not known. Triggers for migraine headaches include certain foods, stress, hormonal changes, strong stimuli (loud noises), and oversleeping. Treatment guidelines for migraines include medicine, pain management, diet changes, avoiding foods that trigger migraines, staying hydrated, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly. Prevention of migraine triggers include getting regular exercise, drinking water daily, reducing stress, and avoiding trigger foods.

Is A Manual Blood Pressure More Accurate?

Manual blood pressure gives accurate results when used correctly by a trained person. However, manual blood pressure measurement is not the recommended type of blood pressure monitoring for home use because it requires some training.

Can Drinking Water Lower Your Blood Pressure?

Keeping well hydrated by drinking six to eight glasses of water daily (even more if working in hot and humid conditions) is beneficial for the blood pressure. High blood pressure (BP) or hypertension is a condition caused by the persistent high pressure of blood against the walls of arteries. It is also called systolic pressure (constantly greater than 139 mmHg) or diastolic pressure (constantly more than 89 mmHg).

How Do I Know If I Have High or Low Blood Pressure Numbers?

High or low blood pressure can lead to serious health conditions. Learn more about what you should do if your pressure is outside the ideal range.

Which Blood Pressure Number Is the Most Important?

The blood that flows through the arteries (blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other parts of the body) exerts pressure against the arterial walls. The number above (120) is called the systolic blood pressure and the number below (80) is called the diastolic blood pressure. Though both readings are important, many doctors believe that systolic blood pressure is a better predictor of complications of hypertension, such as heart disease or stroke.

What Foods Can I Eat to Lower My Blood Pressure Immediately?

What is high blood pressure and how can you lower it? Learn the best foods to help lower your blood pressure immediately.

What Causes Low Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?

Things to Know About High Blood Pressure Treatment

High blood pressure (hypertension) means high pressure (tension) in the arteries. Treatment for high blood pressure include lifestyle modifications (alcohol, smoking, coffee, salt, diet, exercise), drugs and medications such as ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers (CCBs), alpha blockers, clonidine, minoxidil, and Exforge.

Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension) Causes

Low blood pressure (hypotension) occurs when blood pressure drops below the normal range. Low blood pressure can be temporary, or it can be a chronic (long-lasting) condition.

Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is most commonly caused by cirrhosis, a disease that results from scarring of the liver. Other causes of portal hypertension include blood clots in the portal vein, blockages of the veins that carry the blood from the liver to the heart, and a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis. Symptoms of portal hypertension include varices (enlarged veins), vomiting blood, blood in the stool, black and tarry stool, ascites (abnormal fluid collection within the peritoneum, the sac that contains the intestines within the abdominal cavity), confusion and lethargy, splenomegaly or enlargement of the spleen, and decreased white blood cell counts.

What Are the Best Fruits for Lowering Blood Pressure?

The best fruits for lowering blood pressure include citrus fruits, berries, bananas, pomegranates, prunes, and melons.

Why Does Alcohol Cause Hypertension?

Alcoholic beverages are regular drinks in most parts of the world. No one knows how alcohol causes hypertension, but it may be due to the effects of alcohol endothelium, nervous system, cortisol levels or other body systems.

Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. The most common symptoms are fatigue and difficulty breathing. If the condition goes undiagnosed, more severe symptoms may occur. As pulmonary hypertension worsens, some people with the condition have difficulty performing any activities that require physical exertion. While there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, it can be managed and treated with medications and supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels.

What Are the Signs Your Blood Pressure Is Too High?

What is high blood pressure, and how do you lower it? Learn the signs of high blood pressure and what to do if your blood pressure numbers go above a healthy range.

What Are the Top Drinks to Lower Blood Pressure?

The top drinks for lowering blood pressure include beverages that are rich in nutrients and low in sodium and fats. Learn the 10 best blood-pressure-lowering drinks here.

What Is Normal Blood Pressure by Age?

What is normal blood pressure? Learn about normal blood pressure by age and the risk factors of hypertension.

Hypertensive Kidney Disease

High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.

10 Ways to Lower Blood Pressure Without Medication

Lifestyle changes are effective in controlling high blood pressure.

What Will Happen if Your Blood Pressure is Too High?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can have negative consequences on your health. Learn what happens if your blood pressure is too high, the causes of high blood pressure, and what you can do to treat it.

What Are Abnormal Blood Pressure Number Ranges?

Abnormal blood pressure, especially high blood pressure, is a common issue with no initial symptoms. Learn how to keep your blood pressure in the normal range.

What Can I Eat To Lower My Blood Pressure Immediately?

Learn what you can eat to lower your blood pressure to a more healthy level and help you manage hypertension.

Can I Check My Blood Pressure With My Phone?

The force of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels carrying blood from the heart to other sites in the body (the arteries) is called blood pressure. The heart pumps blood into the arteries as it contracts (systole).

What Are the New Blood Pressure Guidelines for Seniors?

Hypertension or high blood pressure (high BP) is a medical condition where the pressure in the blood vessels is persistently elevated. The heart pumps blood into the arteries, which circulate blood to all parts of the body. In cases of high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to push the blood column ahead.

Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension)

Pseudotumor Cerebri (intracranial hypertension) is a condition where there is an increase in pressure of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) mimicing a brain tumor. The cause is unknown. The most common symptom is headache but also include eye-pain, vision loss and double vision. Pseudotumor cerebri is diagnosed with MRI or CAT scans and treated by discontinuing offending medications (if applicable), weight loss and diuretic medications. The condition can also be helped by repeated drainage of spinal fluid using the lumbar puncture.

Can High Blood Pressure Hurt My Eyes?

Unfortunately, yes. Suffering from untreated or poorly controlled high blood pressure for a long time can be detrimental to your eyes. Several eye diseases are directly or indirectly caused by high blood pressure (hypertension).

Preeclampsia (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension)

Preeclampsia is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. Preeclampsia typically begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. When preeclampsia causes seizures, it is termed "eclampsia" and is the second leading cause of maternal death of in the US. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of fetal complications. Risk factors for preeclampsia include high blood pressure, obesity, multiple births, and women with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Pregnancy planning and lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.

What Is “Normal” Blood Pressure?

Normal blood pressure is when the pressure is less than or upto 120/80 mmHg. The value 120 denotes the systolic pressure, and the value 80 denotes the diastolic pressure.

Hypertension-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Hypertension-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-standing kidney condition that develops over time due to persistent or uncontrolled high blood pressure (hypertension).

What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)?

High blood pressure or hypertension is when the blood pressure readings consistently range from 140 or higher for systolic or 90 or higher for diastolic. Blood pressure readings above 180/120 mmHg are dangerously high and require immediate medical attention.

High Blood Pressure Symptoms

Most people with high blood pressure have no signs or symptoms, even if blood pressure readings reach dangerously high levels. In some patients, symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion, sweating, chest pain and vision problems.

How Does High Blood Pressure Affect Pregnancy?

High blood pressure during pregnancy can cause serious complications. Learn more about the signs of and risks associated with the condition.

What Can You Do For Treatment if Your Blood Pressure Is Too Low?

Learn what medical treatments can help with your low blood pressure and speed up your recovery.

Is Pseudotumor Cerebri the Same as Intracranial Hypertension?

Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) is also called idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). The condition causes symptoms similar to a brain tumor.

What Is the Proper Way to Take Your Blood Pressure?

Nowadays, you can easily measure your blood pressure at home using an automated blood pressure machine or sphygmomanometer. Here’s how to do it step-by-step to make sure you’re doing it the right way.