J C asked:
I have been watching my blood pressure for a few months and the bottom number has conistently been from 90 to 100 range fro last 3 to 4 months. Can this be my norm, does it warrent going on BP medicine?
I have been watching my blood pressure for a few months and the bottom number has conistently been from 90 to 100 range fro last 3 to 4 months. Can this be my norm, does it warrent going on BP medicine?
Based on what I’m told at my care giver… its a bit high.
Blood pressure (strictly speaking: vascular pressure) refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. The pressure of the circulating blood decreases as blood moves through arteries, arterioles, capillaries, and veins; the term blood pressure generally refers to arterial pressure, i.e., the pressure in the larger arteries, arteries being the blood vessels which take blood away from the heart. Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which uses the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure (see Non-invasive measurement). Although many modern vascular pressure devices no longer use mercury, vascular pressure values are still universally reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
The systolic arterial pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle; the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The average pressure throughout the cardiac cycle is reported as mean arterial pressure; the pulse pressure reflects the difference between the maximum and minimum pressures measured.
Typical values for a resting, healthy adult human are approximately 120 mmHg (16 kPa) systolic and 80 mmHg (11 kPa) diastolic (written as 120/80 mmHg, and spoken as “one twenty over eighty”) with large individual variations. These measures of arterial pressure are not static, but undergo natural variations from one heartbeat to another and throughout the day (in a circadian rhythm); they also change in response to stress, nutritional factors, drugs, or disease. Hypertension refers to arterial pressure being abnormally high, as opposed to hypotension, when it is abnormally low. Along with body temperature, blood pressure measurements are the most commonly measured physiological parameters.
That is a bit high. Before going on medication, try improving your diet and increase your daily exercise.
Stay away from foods that are high in sodium. All pre-packaged foods and fast foods are high in sodium. Try sticking to only fresh foods and do not use salts when preparing meals. You can use substitutes like Ms. Dash which add natural flavors to foods and have zero sodium. When shopping for foods to make meals, pay attention to the sodium content. Normal sodium intake is about 2400 mg per day. Try to get down to 2000 mg per day.
Eat foods that are high in potassium. Bananas, oat meals, and yogurts are good sources of potassium. Also, try drinking about 20 ounces of fresh OJ each day.
Drink alcohol in moderation if you must, but try not to drink at all. If you smoke, quit.
Try exercising every day. I am not really healthy enough to jog anymore, but I take a brisk 40 minute walk every day at lunch.
Good luck!
Normal blood pressure is 120/80 to 139/89
Stage 1 is 140/90 – 159/99
Stage 2 is 160/100
For many people weight loss ( if you are over weight) a diet lower in salt, and exercise will bring them in better control. Smokers will have an elevated BP if taken shortly after a smoke.
You obviously present with a high number and should see a Doctor, he or she will monitor you over a couple of visits and will most likely put you on a medication if it does not go down.
Good luck but please see a Doctor.