Blood Pressure

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Blood pressure is the pressure exerted when the blood is carried from the heart to all other parts of the body through the arteries. Blood pressure is defined as the force of the blood on the walls of the arteries.

Important Aspects of Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure
  • When heart beats, it pumps out blood into the arteries. The blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats while pumping the blood. It is known as systolic pressure.
  • Resting of heart between beats also exerts some pressure on the artery, known as diastolic pressure.
  • Blood pressure is given as these two numbers i.e. the systolic and diastolic pressures.
  • Both these pressures are important for normal working of the body. It is mentioned as e.g. 120/80 mmHg. The first is systolic and the next is diastolic. It is called 120 over 80.
  • Blood pressure normally changes during the day. It is lowest at sleep and rises when one gets up, or at the time of excitation, nervousness, or activity.

Classification of Blood Pressure

  • Blood pressure is classified as systolic and diastolic blood pressures
  • When the systolic or the diastolic blood pressure measurement becomes higher than the accepted value, then it is classified as prehypertension or hypertension. When the pressure is lower than expected, then it is known as hypotension or low BP.

Normal Blood Pressure

  • Various factors affect the person's normal value of blood pressure. In children, the normal blood pressure range is lower than adults and it also depends on height.
  • In adults, systolic pressure raises and diastolic falls
  • By considering the normal difference between left and right hand BP, the average blood pressure is mentioned as 120 /80 mmHg; in which systolic pressure is less than 120 and diastolic should be less than 80.

High Blood Pressure

  • It is also known as arterial hypertension. It is basically an indicator of other problems and has long-term unhelpful effects. In some cases, it becomes an acute problem or hypertensive emergency.
  • When the pressure on the blood becomes high, it results in increase in the heart workload and sequence of unhealthy tissue growth known as atheroma. This develops within the walls of the arteries.
  • As a result of this, higher the pressure, the more stress on the heart as the atheroma results in thickening of the heart muscles and becomes weaker.
  • Long term hypertension can lead to strokes, heart failure, heart attacks and arterial aneurysms or also chronic renal failure.
  • In some cases of high blood pressure, there is decrease in excessive diastolic pressure which can increase the risk due to tremendous difference between systolic and diastolic pressures.

Low Blood Pressure

  • It is also known as hypotension i.e. blood pressure that is too low
  • Hypotension causes symptoms such as fainting, dizziness, or in extreme cases, shock.
  • When arterial pressure and blood flow lowers away from a specific point, the perfusion of the brain becomes critically decreased leading to lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, or fainting.
  • Sometimes, it is possible that the pressure drops drastically when a patient stands up after sitting for a long time. This is called orthostatic hypotension. This takes place because of gravity.
  • Other causes of low arterial pressure include:
  1. Sepsis
  2. Hemorrhage
  3. Toxic doses of BP medicine
  4. Addison's disease
  5. Anorexia nervosa
  6. Bulimia

Decreased blood pressure can lead to shock.

Change in Blood Pressure

There are many factors which have an effect on blood pressure. There are many reasons behind the blood pressure changes, including some of the natural fluctuations. These risk factors are considered as below:

Alcohol and Smoking

This is a very common cause of change in blood pressure. Smoking puts the heart under pressure and thus, makes it work harder which can lead to hypertension.

Age

Aging can increase the chance of changes in blood pressure as a result of hardening of the arteries. According to The American Heart Association, blood pressure begins to increase at 35 years for men and at 45 years for women.

Eating and Nutrition

After a meal, blood pressure rises for nearly 45 minutes. There is a strong link between salt and high blood pressure. Those who add salt are at higher risk for hypertension. Reducing sodium intake can reduce blood pressure.

Medication

Some medicines also have effect on blood pressure, for e.g. medication for an infection or for inflamed organs.

In this way, we can say that blood pressure is an important part of our health which has a control on our well being.