Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body.

How is blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure is usually measured by wrapping an inflatable pressure cuff around the upper arm. The cuff is connected to a pressure measuring device. The entire instrument is called a sphygmomanometer.

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, eg 120/80.

The larger number indicates the pressure in the arteries as the heart squeezes out blood during each beat. It is called the systolic blood pressure.

The lower number indicates the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat. It is called the diastolic blood pressure. It is best to measure blood pressure when you are relaxed and sitting or lying down.

Blood pressure varies

Blood pressure does not stay the same all the time. It is always changing to meet your body's needs. If a reading is high, your doctor will measure your blood pressure again on several occasions to confirm the level. Your doctor may also recommend that you measure your blood pressure at home or have a recording with a monitor device. This will be particularly so if your doctor considers that coming to the clinic makes your blood pressure rise. Automated blood pressure machines are now quite reliable.

What is high blood pressure?

There is no rule about what is high blood pressure, but the following figures are a useful guide:

Normal blood pressure: less than 120/80 ie systolic less than 120 and diastolic less than 80. This is a guide only. Your doctor may recommend a lower figure on home blood pressure readings, eg. 120/80.

High normal: between 120/80 and 140/90.

High: more than 140/90. If the level is confirmed as more than 180/110 you have very high blood pressure. (Note: the word ‘hypertension' is often used for high blood pressure. ‘Hypertension' does not mean nervous tension.)

Why does blood pressure matter?

If the blood pressure remains high it can cause serious problems like a heart attack, a stroke, heart failure or kidney disease.
High blood pressure usually does not give warning signs. You can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly well. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is by having it checked regularly.
The following increase the risks of serious problems associated with high blood pressure problems:

• smoking
• high blood cholesterol
• being overweight

What can you do if you have high blood pressure?

Lifestyle is very important in helping to control high blood pressure and its associated risks. Your doctor will probably advise you to:

• Be a non smoker (for information on quitting smoking call the Heart Foundation Quitline 131 848.
• Reduce fat (especially saturated fat) and salt intake
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Undertake regular physical activity
• Limit alcohol intake to two drinks per day (for men) and 1 drink per day (for women).

Many people with high blood pressure require ongoing medication.
If your blood pressure is normal (less than 130/85)

You can help to prevent your blood pressure increasing and control the risk of heart disease. Have your blood pressure checked regularly; if your blood pressure is ‘normal' and you have no personal or family history of the condition, we recommend a check every 2 years and during routine visits to your doctor. If it is ‘high-normal' (or higher) or you have a personal or family history of high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack, it is best to have it checked more frequently, as advised by your doctor.

• Be a non-smoker
• Achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• Be active every day – accumulate 30 minutes or more of moderate physical activity on all or most days of the week – walking, cycling or anything that you enjoy. N.B. Some specific types of exercises should be avoided by people with high blood pressure. These include body presses and lifting heavy weights.
• Limit your alcohol intake.
• Eat a wide variety of foods:
  -choose mainly vegetables, fruits and legumes, and grain based foods, preferably wholegrain.
  -consume moderate amounts of lean meats, poultry, fish and reduced fat dairy products, and moderate amounts of polyunsaturated or monounsaturated fat.

Take any blood pressure medication exactly as prescribed. Don't stop or change your medication unless advised to do so by your doctor.