Even after you have visited your doctor and had your blood pressure measured you may still come away wondering just what your blood pressure should be. Blood pressure readings vary from person to person and are affected by all sorts of different things. As a result, it is fair to say that there really is no such thing as a normal blood pressure. However, there is such a thing as an average blood pressure which we can use as a basis for calculating your own normal pressure and this is a pressure of 120 over 80. More importantly, there is also an average point at which high blood pressure or hypertension starts and that is 140 over 90.
Normal blood pressure changes from one individual to the next. If, for instance, you are suffering from a medical condition such as heart disease then you may generally maintain a pressure of 130 over 80 and your your doctor may be happy to accept this as being normal for you. He may also put you on medication and recommend a change in diet and an exercise plan to maintain this pressure if necessary.
Hypertension is a serious medical condition which, even by itself, can increase you risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack significantly. You need therefore to establish what your normal pressure reading should be and this is best done in consultation with your health care provider. Thereafter, you must check your pressure readings regularly if you are to know whether or not you are keeping within an acceptable range.
If your pressure is near normal but beginning to increase then your doctor may simply recommend a program of diet and exercise to correct the problem. As little as 20 or 30 minutes of exercise 3 or 4 times a week and a sensible eating plan can have a marked effect on your blood pressure. In some people the intake of sodium can affect your pressure significantly and your physician may recommend you reduce your salt intake immediately.
A major advancement in tackling the problem of high blood pressure has been the introduction of the DASH diet. This diet focuses its attention on a range of healthy food including fish and poultry, along with vegetables and fruit.
Speak with your health care provider and agree on just what normal blood pressure for you is. Then, start to check your pressure daily using one of the many excellent blood pressure monitors available today. If your pressure does start to creep up then take action immediately to correct it and don’t be afraid to seek further advice from your doctor if you are at all worried.
Learn far more than merely what the answer to the question what should your blood pressure be is and the benefits nowadays of using a home blood pressure monitor to keep an eye on your overall health.
