Understanding Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
When people talk about "taking your blood pressure," it means they want to check two numbers that represent the force of the blood that your heart pumps through your body.
These two numbers are called the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure. They are measured by using a cuff with an attached gauge so that the numbers can be read by a machine, or by a person hearing the pressure rise and fall through a stethoscope. Both numbers are important but not always for the same reasons. This article looks at how blood pressure is taken, what levels are normal, and what some of the results can mean.
Blood Pressure Overview:
- When the heart beats, blood pulses through the arteries to travel throughout the body. It is not the steady stream you might see from a garden hose or water faucet.
- The pulse of the the blood flow and the pressure it exerts change from moment to moment. It's highest during the heartbeat (this is the systolic pressure) and lowest between beats (diastolic). A blood pressure reading includes both these measurements.
- Doctors measure blood pressure in these numbers so that there is a standard way of describing the force of the pulsing blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are important.
- If the readings are too high, it may mean a person has high blood pressure.1 If the readings are too low, there may not be enough blood flowing to the brain and other critical organs. If there are changes in the difference between the two numbers, it's a clue that there may be a heart condition or other problem
What Is the Normal Blood Pressure Range?
If you have high blood pressure (hypertension), without any complications, the first thing to do is to calm down and lie flat
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 (hypertension), without any complications, the first thing to do is to calm down and lie flat. Leave aside the task you were engaged in and slowly start taking deep breaths. This stress-relieving technique helps to bring down the blood pressure to a certain extent. If calming techniques don’t help, then consult a physician immediately. Additionally, do not forget to take your antihypertensive medications for blood pressure that is uncontrolled by lifestyle changes and diet.
Medication is the main option for treating high blood pressure. As blood pressure improves with lifestyle modifications, medications can be withdrawn gradually. Medications in combination with a healthy diet reduce the risk of a stroke, a heart attack, and other complications.
What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force applied by the blood to the inner walls of the arteries. It shows minor fluctuations throughout the day—declining while relaxing and momentarily increasing while being excited or under stress. An increase in the resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.
What Are Normal Blood Pressure Ranges by Age For Men and Women?
Men's average BP ranges vary by age group. The age group with the lowest normal blood pressure reading is men age 31-35 (114.5/75.5). The age group with the highest normal blood pressure reading is men ages 61-65 (143.5/76.5)
As with men, women's average BP ranges also vary by age group. The age group with the lowest normal blood pressure reading is different between the systolic and diastolic reading. Women ages 21-25 have the lowest normal diastolic reading (115.5-70.5), while women age 31-35 have the lowest normal systolic reading (110.5/72.5). The age group with the highest normal blood pressure reading is women ages 56-60 (132.5/78.5)
Your blood pressure reading is a measurement of the pressure your blood applies across your artery walls. Your blood pressure changes a little throughout the day; when you relax, your blood pressure lowers, and when you move around or feel stress, your blood pressure increases. But high blood pressure over a long term is associated with serious health risks, including heart, brain, and eye damage. Likewise, chronic low blood pressure sometimes comes with health risks. Fortunately, there are helpful ways to manage both high and low blood pressure.
Your blood pressure reading comes with two numbers. The first number refers to your systolic blood pressure. The second number refers to your diastolic blood pressure.
"Systolic" refers to "contraction" in Latin. Your systolic blood pressure is the highest blood pressure exerted when your heart beats (contracts), and puts pressure on blood vessels. "Diastolic" is related to the Latin word for "dilate." Your diastolic blood pressure is the lowest blood pressure put on your blood vessels, with your heart at rest between beats, when it dilates (expands). Systolic and diastolic blood pressures are usually easy to record with measurements done with a blood pressure cuff. Blood pressure measurements are recorded as systolic pressure/diastolic pressure in mm Hg; for example, 120/80 mm Hg.
What Is Abnormal Blood Pressure?
Abnormal blood pressure puts you at risk of several serious health problems including heart attack and stroke. Your blood pressure is a measurement of the force of your blood as it moves through the arteries in your body. It's made up of two numbers: systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
High blood pressure is generally of greater concern when talking about risks. It's also called hypertension. Low blood pressure is called hypotension.
This article discusses how normal blood pressure is measured, what it means when your blood pressure is too low or too high, how blood pressure conditions are treated, and when to see a healthcare provider.
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure can be categorized into five different types include normal, elevated, hypertension stage I, hypertension stage II, and hypertensive crisis
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 the resting blood pressure can scar, stiffen, or harden the arteries.
Blood pressure is written as systolic and diastolic values. Hence, BP 120/80 mm Hg means 120 is the systolic number, and 80 is the diastolic number.
High blood pressure is more likely to cause:
- heart attack
- stroke
- heart failure
- vision loss
- kidney failure
- dementia
- erectile dysfunction
