Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood. High blood pressure or hypertension happens when this force is too high. More the blood your heart pumps & narrower your arteries, the higher will be your your blood pressure!
Blood pressure consists of two readings:
- Systolic Pressure: It is the blood pressure when the heart beats while pumping blood (when the heart muscles contract)
- Diastolic Pressure: It is the blood pressure when the heart rests between beats.
What are the typical blood pressure ranges?
- Ideally your blood pressure should be less than 120/80. (Systolic – 120, Diastolic – 80)
- For pre-hypertensive levels, the range is: Systolic – 120-139/ Diastolic – 80-89
- For high blood pressure stage 1 , the range is: Systolic – 140-159/ Diastolic – 90-99
- For high blood pressure stage 2, the range is: Systolic – 160+/ Diastolic – 100+
- If the systolic blood pressure is 90 or less & the diastolic blood pressure is 60 or less, it is the case of low blood pressure.
Some of the risk factors for high blood pressure/ hypertension are: Continue reading “Impact of uncontrolled blood pressure”
