Normal blood pressure is when the pressure is less than or up to 120/80 mmHg. The value 120 denotes the systolic pressure, and the value 80 denotes the diastolic pressure.
Any measurement above this value needs doctor consultation.
Maintaining the blood pressure in the normal range requires regular exercise and a balanced diet.
What is systolic and diastolic blood pressure?
Blood pressure is often noted as:
- Systolic blood pressure (the highest reading): It denotes the amount of pressure the blood exerts against the artery walls as the heart beats. The upper value is the systolic value.
- Diastolic pressure (the lowest reading): It denotes the amount of pressure the blood exerts against the artery walls while the heart rests in between the beats. The lower value is the diastolic value.
Which blood pressure reading is more important?
Systolic pressure has been given major attention. In most people, the systolic pressure increases with age due to the hardening of the large arteries, the buildup of plaque, and an increased risk of heart and blood vessel diseases. The risk of death from a heart attack and stroke doubles with every 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg increase among people aged 40-89 years.
Usually, the physician notes either an elevated systolic or diastolic reading to diagnose high blood pressure.
Why is blood pressure measured in mm Hg?
Millimeters of mercury abbreviates to mm Hg. Mercury was used in the first accurate pressure gauges and still is used as a standard unit of pressure in medicine.
What are the different blood pressure categories? 5 Types
Blood pressure can be categorized into five different types:
Normal: Blood pressure up to 120/80 mm Hg is normal blood pressure.
Prehypertension: When blood pressure readings consistently range from 120 to 139 systolic and up to 80 mm Hg diastolic, it is known as prehypertensive.
- People with elevated blood pressure are at risk of high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control it.
Hypertension stage I: In this condition, blood pressure readings consistently range from 140 to 159 systolic or 90-99 mmHg diastolic.
- Doctors may prescribe lifestyle modifications such as cutting back on salt and stress along with blood pressure medication to reduce the risk of heart diseases and strokes.
Hypertension stage II: In this condition, blood pressure readings consistently range up to 160 mmHg systolic or higher. The diastolic value is up to 100 mmHg or higher.
- The doctors may prescribe a combination of two blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes.
Hypertensive crisis: This is the most critical condition and requires emergency medical attention. In this condition, the blood pressure suddenly exceeds 180/120 mmHg. Contact the physician immediately if you experience the following symptoms:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Back pain
- Numbness/weakness
- Change in vision
- Difficulty speaking
- Giddiness
- Severe headache
How to maintain normal blood pressure?
Lifestyle changes and regular exercises can help to maintain normal blood pressure. Some of the suggested lifestyle changes are as follows:
- De-stress
- Quit smoking
- Lose weight
- Avoid alcohol or at least limit the intake
- Eat a low-sodium, low-fat diet (the DASH diet)
- Eat foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium such as bananas, papaya, and milk
- Regular monitoring of blood pressure after reaching the age of 35 years
- Practice meditation and other stress-relieving exercises
- Cut back on caffeine
SLIDESHOW
The 14 Most Common Causes of Fatigue See Slideshowhttps://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/qa/what-is-normal-blood-pressure
https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings
https://www.medicinenet.com/high_blood_pressure_hypertension/article.htm
Top What is "normal" blood pressure? Related Articles
artichoke
Artichoke is available over the counter (OTC) as an herbal supplement and is used for medicinal purposes to treat indigestion, lower cholesterol, and to protect the liver. Other uses include appetite loss, and gallbladder problems, high blood fat levels (hyperlipidemia), high blood pressure, hepatitis C, and irritable bowel syndrome. Common side effects of artichoke include gas (flatulence), upset stomach, diarrhea, and allergic reactions. Consult with your doctor before taking artichoke supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
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.
What Is High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)? Symptoms, Treatments
What causes high blood pressure (hypertension)? What is normal blood pressure? Know the warning signs and symptoms of high blood pressure. Read about high blood pressure medications, diet, and long-term treatments.
HBP Quiz
Take this quiz and test your IQ of high blood pressure (hypertension), the cardiovascular disease that causes most strokes and heart attacks. How are dizziness, snoring, and gout related to HBP? Find the answer and learn how medical treatments and lifestyle adjustments fight this common problem.
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.
How Long Can Caffeine Raise Your Blood Pressure?
Peak blood pressure typically happens between one to two hours after caffeine intake, and this spike may last for over four hours.
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.labetalol
Labetalol is a medication prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure. The most common side effects of labetalol are fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headache, diarrhea, edema (fluid accumulation), and shortness of breath. Other important side effects include sexual dysfunction, abnormal heart rhythm, slow heart rate, liver failure, and allergic reactions. Consult your doctor before taking if pregnant or breastfeeding.losartan and hydrochlorothiazide (Hyzaar)
Losartan and hydrochlorothiazide is a combination drug of losartan and hydrochlorothiazide prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure. Common side effects of losartan/hydrochlorothiazide are nausea, vomiting, back pain, stomach upset, dizziness, and upper respiratory infection. Do not take while pregnant or breastfeeding.metoprolol
Metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL) is a beta-adrenergic blocking agent drug, which blocks the action of the sympathetic nervous system (a portion of the involuntary nervous system). Metoprolol is prescribed to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart pain (angina), heart rhythm disorders, and some neurological conditions. Side effects include fever, impotence, sore throat, nausea, depression, insomnia, constipation, memory loss, and high blood pressure.
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.triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide
Triamterene and hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, Maxzide, Dyazide) is a diuretic medication prescribed for the treatment of high blood pressure and edema. Review side effects, drug interactions, and safety during pregnancy information prior to taking this medication.
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 Is Normal Blood Pressure by Age?
What is normal blood pressure? Learn about normal blood pressure by age and the risk factors of hypertension.
Where Is an Arterial Line Placed?
Arterial line placement, or arterial cannulation, is a procedure typically placed in the radial artery in the forearm or the femoral artery in the thigh. It may be used to prevent complications associated with repeated arterial puncture, for continuous blood pressure monitoring, blood sampling, and for patients with heart disease, stroke, head injury, drug overdose, in a coma, and more.
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.