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 bag around the upper arm. The bag 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.
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 139/89.
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 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 or less daily
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.
- If you drink alcohol, keep to two drinks or less daily
- Eat a wide variety of foods:
-foods low in salt content/no salt added to cooking or at the table
-less fat, especially saturated fat (to help keep blood cholesterol down), plenty of cereals, fish, fruit and vegetables.
Take any blood pressure medication exactly as prescribed. Don't stop or change your medication unless advised to do so by your doctor.
The Important Tick
When you shop, look for this symbol.
It's your guide from the Heart Foundation to foods low in saturated fat, added sugar and salt, and higher in fibre. All the foods have been independently tested for the Foundation before getting the Tick.
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