It’s funny: you visit your GP for stumping your toe and they’ll still take your blood pressure reading.
Ever wonder why your doctor insists on taking your blood pressure every time? This helps them to continuously monitor your blood pressure.
Knowing your blood pressure numbers can help detect and prevent chronic illnesses like hypertension or heart disease.
Let’s learn more about blood pressure and what the ideal blood pressure reading should look like:
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure refers to the pressure that your blood puts on your circulatory system (your arteries). This can be influenced by your heart pressure, the rate at which your heart pumps and the elasticity of your arteries.
Your blood pressure is measured with a blood pressure machine which measures your systolic and diastolic pressure numbers.
Systolic numbers
When your heart beats, the blood in your circulatory system puts pressure on the inside of your arteries (against your arterial walls). This pressure against your vessels refers to your systolic blood pressure reading.
A normal systolic blood pressure number is below 120.
A systolic blood pressure reading of 140 or more could mean that you have hypertension.
Diastolic numbers
A diastolic reading refers to the moment your heart rests between beats and reduces the pressure on your arterial walls. This is when your heart fills with blood, getting ready to pump again.
A normal diastolic blood pressure reading is lower than 80.
Blood pressure ranges
| Blood pressure | Systolic | Diastolic |
| Normal reading | Less than 120 | Less than 80 |
| Prehypertension | 120 - 139 | 80 - 89 |
| Hypertension stage 1 | 140 - 159 | 90 - 99 |
| Hypertension stage 2 | 160 or higher | 100 or higher |
| Hypertension crisis | Higher than 180 | Higer than 110 |
High blood pressure causes
High blood pressure is also known as hypertension. Hypertension can be caused due to the following risk factors:
- Family history of hypertension
- Older age
- Obesity
- Diet high in sodium or salt
- High alcohol consumption
- Sedentary lifestyle (don’t exercise enough)
- Lack of foods containing magnesium, potassium and calcium
- People with a black ethnicity are more prone to hypertension
- A fast-paced or stressful lifestyle can contribute to higher blood pressure
Symptoms of hypertension
There are no clear signs for people suffering from hypertension and it’s sometimes referred to as the silent killer. Therefore doctors always check your blood pressure to have a medical history of your blood pressure numbers to pick up on any warning signs.
If you suspect you may be suffering from hypertension, then consult your GP immediately.
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Sources:
WebMD
Medical News Today
Health24