brianandmartha2000 asked:


I know that normal blood pressre varies with age, height, and weight. Does anyone know any sites that would tell me what my specific blood pressure should be? I am 23 year old female, 5 feet tall and weighs about 115lbs. Any help would be appreciated!

Marlene

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure consists of two number; a top and bottom number. The top number is the systolic pressure. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure.

Systolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries as your heart beats. If your systolic number is higher than one hundred and forty you have high blood pressure. Even if your diastolic number is not high you can still have ‘isolated systolic hypertension.’ This means only your systolic number is high.

This is more common for older Americans. This pressure usually increases with age whereas diastolic pressure decreases after fifty-five. You might not know if you have isolated systolic hypertension so ask your doctor if you are concerned.

Diastolic blood pressure is the force of blood in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats. For younger people this is a very important number. The higher this pressure is the more you are at risk. This blood pressure lowers as you get older and your systolic increases. Therefore diastolic is more important in younger people and systolic in older.

Normal blood pressure is less than one hundred and twenty over less than eighty. If your pressure is between the normal numbers and one hundred and thirty-nine over eighty-nine, you have what is called prehypertension. This puts you at risk to develop high blood pressure in the future but it easily preventable.

Hypertension is a name for high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease or even strokes. High blood pressure makes your heart work harder than it should and can lead to blindness, kidney disease and even congestive heart failure.

According to statistics high blood pressure killed over fifty-four thousand people in 2004. Statistics also show that twenty-eight percent of people have high blood pressure and aren’t even aware of it. Are you one of them?

You should be aware of the risks of high blood pressure so you can avoid them as best as you can. High blood pressure is a risk for stroke and heart disease. While some risks can be altered or fixed, some cannot. For instance if you use tobacco or are overweight you are at risk for high blood pressure.

You can easily fix this by trying to quit using tobacco and watching your diet to help lose weight. If you have trouble doing either of these on your own, consult your physician. They may be able to prescribe you something or give you useful information to help.

High blood pressure can affect certain parts of your body as well. You might suffer from a stroke. This happens because the high blood pressure can break a weak blood vessel leaving it to bleed into the brain. Also if you have a blood clot blocking a narrow artery, you can also experience a stroke.

Sometimes impaired vision or blindness can occur from high blood pressure. It might eventually cause your blood vessels in your eye to bleed or burst leaving you with blurred or impaired vision.

Your arteries harden as you age, even more so for those in your heart, brain and kidneys. These harder arteries are associated with high blood pressure. When this happens your kidneys and heart have to work harder. If you have any questions or concerns about your blood pressure ask your doctor. They can answer any questions you might have and find a solution if you do in fact have high blood pressure or might be prone to it. It’s never too late to take care of your body, including your blood pressure.



Cindy

Author asked:


Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the arteries each time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is highest each time the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure, and is the high number in your reading. The diastolic pressure measures the pressure in between beats, when your heart is at rest. Your blood pressure is lowest while sleeping and although it varies some during the day, it remains close to the same. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your systolic pressure rises to 140 or above, or if your diastolic pressure rises to 90 or above, this is considered high blood pressure.

According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and an alarming one-third of those don’t even know they have it. It’s no wonder this condition has long been called “the silent killer”.

High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. And when it exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times. If you don’t have high blood pressure by age 55, your chance of developing it at some point in your life is 90 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

Although high blood pressure can occur in both children and adults, it is most common in those over age 35, and is most prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. Although many people get high blood pressure as they get older, it is not part of the aging process! Proper diet, exercise and lifestyle changes can help in prevention and lowering of blood pressure.

Commonly Prescribed Medication for High Blood Pressure.

In 90–95 percent of cases, research scientists don’t know what causes high blood pressure, but fortunately they know enough to have developed both drug and non-drug products to treat it effectively.

A wide variety of medications are available to medical professionals for treating high blood pressure. Although other classes of medications are sometimes prescribed, the most commonly prescribed can be broken down into five different classes of medications that work in different ways to lower pressure.

· Diuretics (water pills) work in the kidney to get rid of excess water and sodium.

· Beta-Blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels to cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force.

· Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which would otherwise cause vessels to narrow.

· Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) block the action of angiotensin II.

· Calcium Channel Blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax.

As of June, 2005, there didn’t appear to be much global agreement among medical experts worldwide in terms of recommended first-line therapy for treating high blood pressure. It is important to note that in June, 2006, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Hypertension Society have come to an agreement within the UK, and have issued new guidelines, including important changes to help guide primary care physicians in determining first-line therapy. A major change is that Beta-Blockers, which have been shown to be less effective in preventing strokes and more likely to cause diabetes, are no longer recommended as routine treatment for the majority of people with high blood pressure. Instead, ACE Inhibitors (or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers if there are side effects) are now recommended in the UK for most people, with some exceptions, before trying other classes of medication for hypertension.

As with any medication, there may be side effects from taking ACE Inhibitors, and some should not use them at all, including black people of any age. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, also in June, 2006, indicated an increased risk of birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester, adding to the known risks during the second and third trimesters. While most people can tolerate ACE Inhibitors, some may experience side effects such as cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Rare, but more serious side effects include kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

Very similar to ACE Inhibitors are ARB medications, and depending on the individual’s particular health issues, a doctor may switch between the two, and may sometimes prescribe both. The most common side effects with ARBs are cough, elevated potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, abnormal taste sensation (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Compared to ACE inhibitors, cough occurs less often with ARBs. The most serious, but rare, side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).

On January 19, 2007, Rush University Medical Center reported findings that ACE Inhibitors and ARBs prevent people from getting diabetes, and that diuretics and beta-blockers increase the chance that a person becomes diabetic. The authors pointed out that more studies are required to determine whether new-onset diabetes leads to as many heart attacks, strokes or death, as long-standing diabetes. However, their data suggests that the differences between antihypertensive drugs regarding the risk for new-onset diabetes are real and are significant. Melaleuca offers a natural high blood pressure remedy called ProStolic™ which interacts with a natural body enzyme much like the ACE Inhibitors and ARB medications to relax blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow. As a comparison, it might be helpful to understand how the ACE and ARB class of drugs react, as well as how the non-drug hypertension remedy ProStolic™ formula reacts with the body.

In Part 2 of our Blood Pressure Research Report we will discuss the ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers, Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure and benefits of Bioactive Casein Hydrolysate Tripeptides VPP and IPP.



Jamie

SANJAY KAK asked:


The high blood pressure in medical term is called Hypertension, which means high pressure in the arteries. As you know arteries are vessels and job of arteries is to carry blood from the heart to all organs of the body. Our heart is working round the clock pumping blood in and out of heart.

The normal blood pressure is considered when you have Systolic reading below 120 and Diastolic reading below 80 (120/80). The high blood pressure in medical term is called hypertension, which means high pressure in the arteries. As you know arteries are vessels and job of arteries is to carry blood from the heart to all organs of the body. Our heart is working round the clock pumping blood in and out of heart.

The combination of both numbers gives us blood pressure of body. The top number is Systolic blood pressure and it corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and pumps blood forward into the arteries. The Systolic pressure reflects the highest pressure to which the arteries are exposed. The bottom number is Diastolic pressure and it corresponds to the pressure in the arteries as the heart takes break after the contraction. The diastolic pressure reflects the lowest pressure to which the arteries are exposed.

Our blood pressure varies throughout the day by exercise, tension, sleep or walking. Any spike in Systolic or Diastolic blood pressure increases chance of heart failure. This can also lead to other diseases such as kidney (renal), arteries getting hardened, blood coming out of eye (vision damage) or brain damage. Considering the affects of high blood pressure or hypertension, it becomes very important to monitor your blood pressure. This will help to diagnose blood pressure problem in early stage and every effort can be made to normalize blood pressure and prevent complications related to hypertension.

What can cause High Blood Pressure?

1. Heart failure can happen due to bigger heart.

2. Small bulges get formed in blood vessels; the common place to form is arteries, which take blood out from heart, or arteries in legs, brain and to other organs in body.

3. Shrinking of blood vessels.

4. The eyes can bleed or burst, which may lead to vision damage.

The high blood pressure doesn’t give any warning, because of this nature it s called as silent killer. This diseases can be countered by Medication, exercise and changes in lifestyle.



Norma

mike legg asked:


One of the things that can be very frustrating when it comes to doing a home blood pressure test is the way that it can vary greatly, not only from day to day but from hour to hour. Blood pressure in a way can be compared to breathing- it can vary a great deal depending on just what you are doing at that particular time, and that is why it is so important to keep an accurate blood pressure log.

Lower or higher blood pressure readings can also occur due to the position of your body, your hormone level, and your overall health at the time. However you can still efficiently monitor your blood pressure with a home blood pressure test, if you remember that a slight variance in the results is possible.

`White coat` is a term often used when speaking about high blood pressure and its variances. To understand this form of high blood pressure, you must first understand your own body. White coat syndrome specifically occurs to blood pressure levels that spike only when you visit a doctor’s office or have your blood pressure measured by a medical professional.

Although this is a real phenomenon, white coat blood pressure may not simply be a case of nerves. Instead you could be inaccurately measuring your blood pressure when doing a home blood pressure test. Even if white coat syndrome actually is occurring, it is still important to look at the overall trends in your blood pressure and to keep an accurate blood pressure log.

Spikes in blood pressure due to this condition may be nothing to worry about, but if they are exceedingly high you should be concerned. This condition can be fatal for someone who already has high blood pressure. Before you dismiss doctor’s office spikes, understand your own body and how it works. You may need treatment even if your blood pressure has previously seemed normal.

Blood pressure may also change for a number of other reasons as well. Firstly a home blood pressure test may not be as accurate as some of the tests used in a hospital or at your doctors. Inaccuracies occur frequently, and the packaging should be able to tell you just how accurate the tests are. Even if they are not 100% perfect a home blood pressure test is still important, as is keeping a blood pressure log, just as long as you remember that small changes from day to day are ok.

Try to monitor your blood pressure at the same times every day, if possible when you are doing the same type of activity, and keep a good blood pressure log. A good time is in the morning before you begin your day, but do not forget that many types of medication can affect your blood pressure reading so try to take it before you take any prescription pills or drugs.

Exercise greatly affects blood pressure so don’t forget that if you have been doing anything that gets you puffing or breathing heavily then your blood pressure reading will be different then if you have been sitting still or resting. Remember that 30 or even 40 mm Hg differences during a day are not uncommon. Any more than this and you should think about a trip to your doctor for a more accurate test.

Blood pressure can be very difficult to regulate but by doing a home blood pressure test on a regular basis and keeping an accurate blood pressure log, then this will help you in understanding the overall health of your body.



Cindy

Peter rodrick asked:


High blood pressure is a serious condition that affects one in four adults. High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body. It is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. It makes the heart work harder to pump blood to the body and causes the hardening of the arteries. Normal blood pressure is less than 130/85. High blood pressure is higher than 140/90. Hypertension is between 120/80 and 140/90.

Causes of High Blood Pressure

Studies show many different kinds of secondary high blood pressure where the primary causes may be quite different from the continuing causes. An example is a rare disease known as coarctation of the aorta, a disease of the large artery carrying blood out of the heart. In this condition, the aorta is tightly constricted a few inches beyond its origin and then expands to its normal diameter. Undoubtedly, blood pressure must rise above the constriction and fall below it, just as it does when one compresses a hosepipe. Yet, if this constriction is removed surgically and the normal continuity of the aorta is restored, blood pressure usually takes several years to fall to normal level. The initial case of high blood pressure is the constriction, but the continuing cause is probably complex changes in circulating hormones, which function to maintain blood flow through the kidneys despite the obstruction, which may persist for a long time even after the obstruction, has gone.

Pressure in a hose can be regulated either by controlling the rate at which fluid passes through it or by widening it. Pressure inside your arteries can cause the muscles that line the walls of the arteries to thicken. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. Still, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still.

The last cause is one in which you have absolutely no control over. It is genetics. On its own, genetics doesn’t cause high blood pressure, but it feeds all the other causes. Think of it as fertilizer so to speak. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, then your very prone to getting it yourself. With the right genes you can have a high fat and sodium diet, never exercise, drink tons of coffee and stress out on a daily basis, yet still have a reasonably low blood pressure. With the wrong genes, even a little too much salt may be enough to kick your blood pressure into a dangerous range.

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure has no symptoms. But if you feel a dull ache in the back of your head when you wake up one morning, or you have few more nosebleeds than normal, you could have a high blood pressure. Headaches, nosebleeds, and dizziness are also common warning signs and symptoms of high blood pressure, but these do not occur until high blood pressure has reached a more advanced stage. However, many people even with the highest blood pressure readings do not feel any of these symptoms.

Palpitations, tension headaches and hyperventilation are symptoms of anxiety and so are common in people who are anxious or frightened. If they already have these symptoms and are then unfortunately found to have high blood pressure, then the diagnosis may confirm their fears and reinforce the symptoms. Others may get palpitations for the first time after they have been told that they have high blood pressure. They are not caused by high blood pressure itself, but by fear of it and what the diagnosis means. The symptoms usually disappear, although not always immediately, with adequate explanation of what a diagnosis of high blood pressure really means.

Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is considered a modern day disease that can lead to heart disease and stroke. As soon as symptoms are apparent, the proper treatment should be sought immediately. Hypertension, if left untreated, can cause the heart to enlarge due to the increased force necessary to pump blood against the greater resistance in your vessels. It is often called “the silent killer”. It affects nearly 50 million Americans

High Blood Pressure Treatment

Complimentary Therapies – Right medication will curb the level of blood pressure. Living a life with the right practice and involvement will help you to get better relief. It is advisable to join any meditation group or even you can buy books that teach you meditation. In spite of increasing the level of blood pressure, meditation will put an end to the trouble. Moreover, meditation will make your mind to achieve balance pose and position.

Acupuncture combined with electric stimulation or electro-acupuncture can lower elevations of blood pressure in human beings. When the research was conducted for the first time, acupuncture needles were inserted on the inside of the forearm just above the wrist, but to no avail. Researchers then started adding electric stimulation to the needles, which means that electric would start flowing from the needles to the body.



Glen

Kritnaphat N. asked:


You may know information about hypertension or high blood pressure. On the other hand, you may merely know about low blood pressure or hypotension.

Low blood pressure or hypotension is pressure that is lower than normal blood pressure. You may have low blood pressure if your blood pressure is 90/60 or lower.

Low blood pressure sign is the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. If you have low blood pressure, the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.

People who have lower blood pressures have a lower risk of stroke, kidney disease, and heart disease. Athletes, people who exercise regularly, people who maintain ideal body weight, and non-smokers tend to have lower blood pressures. Therefore, low blood pressure is desirable as long as it is not low enough to cause symptoms and damage organs in the body.

The cause of low blood pressure is not being the exactly one but low blood pressure may be involved with pregnancy, hormonal problems, heart failure, heat exhaustion, or liver disease. In some other people, they have a low blood pressure because of some event or medical condition. Some people may experience symptoms of low pressure when standing up too quickly. Anyway low blood pressure is a problem only if it causes dizziness, fainting or in extreme cases, shock so that if you have low blood pressure problem you have to consult your doctor urgently to get an advise for control low blood pressure symptom.

Even low blood pressure is, normally, not cause you health complication but if low blood pressure is disturb your every day life, there are many way you can take care yourselves.

Good and health diet can help you to control low blood pressure. You should get nutrients completely for your body need by having a variety kind of foods, including whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean chicken and fish. You may add more salt in your foods as a bit amount of salt give you sodium can raise blood pressure. But you, importantly, should consult with your doctor before adding up your salt intake because having too mush sodium can lead to heart failure.

If you eat in small meal with low crab food, it can help prevent dropping sharply low blood pressure after meals. You should separate to eat in small portions and several times in a day and limit high-carbohydrate foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and bread. Drinking a bit caffeinated coffee or tea with meals may temporarily raise blood pressure. However alcohol can cause lower blood pressure, even you drink in small amount. But you should drink more water because water against dehydration and increases blood level.

To go more slowly, you can reduce the dizziness and faintness that occurs with low blood pressure on standing by taking slowly movement when you change your position. Before getting out of bed in the morning, for example, breathe deeply for a few minutes and then slowly sit up before standing.

From all above, keeping healthy and have and good food can help you to maintain normal blood pressure and avoid low blood pressure.



Carla

Candygirl asked:


I have normal blood pressure, but my parents have high blood pressure. I don’t want to raise mine, but I was just wondering what are ways I can avoid raising my blood pressure? What exactly do people do/eat that raises their blood pressure?

Jesus

Jeremiah Slivka asked:


What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of your blood against your artery walls. When you have your blood pressure checked the reading has two numbers; one on top and one on bottom.

The top number is your systolic pressure. This is the force of your blood in your arteries when your heart beats. The bottom number is your diastolic pressure. This is the force of your blood in your arteries when your heart relaxes in-between beats.

Normal blood pressure would be a reading of 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure would be a reading of 140/90 or higher. If you have high blood pressure you are at a greater risk of a stroke or heart and kidney disease.

Many things can cause high blood pressure including physical inactivity, tobacco and alcohol use, stress and your diet. These are only a few things. Certain medical conditions and medications can also cause high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can cause your body to have certain effects. For instance it can cause a stroke. The high pressure can cause a weakened blood vessel to break causing it to bleed into the brain; thus leaving you with a stroke.

High blood pressure can also sometimes cause your blood vessels in your eyes to bleed or burst. If this happens your vision will be blurred or impaired and might even result in blindness. Another reason it is best to keep control on your blood pressure.

Along with a stroke or kidney disease high blood pressure can also cause a heart attack. Your arteries are what bring blood carrying oxygen to your heart muscle. If your heart is not getting enough oxygen you will experience chest pain. If the blood flow is blocked as well you will experience a heart attack.

Congestive Heart Failure is very common among people with high blood pressure. This is a very serious condition where your heart cannot pump enough blood to supply the needs of your body. It is never too late to start taking control of your health starting with your blood pressure.

Anyone can develop high blood pressure, even children. It is more common for African Americans to develop it. Many Americans will develop high blood pressure as they age but that doesn’t mean it is healthy.

Obesity plays a role in high blood pressure. If you are over weight you are at a higher risk of having high blood pressure as well as a stroke or heart disease. Try to lose at least ten pounds and this will help lower your blood pressure significantly.

Eating a healthy diet is a great way to lower or control your blood pressure. Limit your intake of salt and sodium and introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet. Once you establish your healthy diet you will have less worry of developing high blood pressure.

You should always have your blood pressure checked at your regular doctor visits. If you have high blood pressure and are concerned you can easily monitor from home. If you do this you want to have your doctor look at your home monitoring device to help ensure it is effective and you are operating it correctly.

Keep track of your blood pressure readings so you can see what is helping and what isn’t. Sometimes regular lifestyle changes alone won’t help as much as they would combined with blood pressure medication. Your doctor will be able to tell you what the best option for your needs would be.



Alexander

Ashish Jain asked:


Apart from the technical interpretation, low blood pressure is a sort of disease that saps energy from all parts of your body and mind. Your spirits are down and your body starts shivering. You get a feeling of sinking — and you need a rescue mission immediately!!

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood within the arteries of the body. Blood pressure is the driving force that causes blood to flow through the body from the arteries (where the pressure is high), through organs, and into the veins (where the pressure is low). Blood pressure is generated by the pumping of blood by the heart into the arteries as well as by the resistance to the flow of blood by the arteries. The systolic blood pressure (the top number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries. And the diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) represents the pressure in the arteries as the muscle of the heart relaxes after it contracts.

Systolic blood pressure for most healthy adults falls between 90 and 120 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Normal diastolic blood pressure falls between 60 and 80 mm Hg. (By convention, an individual’s blood pressure is written as systolic/diastolic blood pressure, e.g., 120/80). Current guidelines define normal blood pressure as lower than 120/80. Blood pressures between 120/80 and 140/90, which used to be considered “pre-hypertension,” are now considered too high. High blood pressure increases the risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis or arteriosclerosis), eye damage, and stroke.

When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidney, it is referred to as Low Blood Pressure. When this happens, the organs are unable to function normally and can be permanently damaged. It should be noted that unlike high blood pressure, which is defined on the basis of blood pressure alone, low blood pressure is defined primarily by signs and symptoms of low blood flow. In fact, some individuals may have a blood pressure of 90/50 and have no signs or symptoms of low blood pressure, and, therefore, not have low blood pressure while others who normally have a blood pressure of 130/80 may develop symptoms and signs of low blood pressure if their blood pressure drops to 100/60.

There are certain traditional medicines that can help to cure low blood pressure. Butter milk is good for both high and low blood pressure. Using asafetida in various articles of food regularly, also helps to cure low blood pressure.



Bertha