Blood Pressure:

Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries to reach every part of the body. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart pumps the blood. Then arteries carry blood from your heart to other parts of the body and blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the process. Pressure of blood in arteries is high then progressively drop in the arterioles and capillaries and become very low in the veins.

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries and it is determined by how much blood your heart pumps and how much resistance to the flow of blood occurs in your arteries. The arteries transport the oxygenated blood throughout the body. The higher or lower blood pressure makes harder for the heart to pump the blood and this situation is not good for the body. Normal blood pressure is important for the proper function of heart and flow of blood from heart to the body’s organs and tissues.

Blood Pressure is measured by two values:

Systolic pressure (the higher number) represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts, and diastolic pressure (the lower number) when arteries relaxed. The unit of measurement for blood pressure is millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Normal Range of Blood pressure – 120mmHg/80mmHg

Systolic Blood pressure -120mmHg (maximum blood pressure in normal condition)

Diastolic Blood pressure – 80mmHg (minimum blood pressure in normal condition)

You have seen that blood pressure is always measured on the upper arm it’s due to the presence of upper brachial artery. On measuring blood pressure of this artery, if pressure is high in the upper brachial artery means pressure is high in all arteries. Abnormal blood pressure levels, either too high (hypertension) or too low (hypotension), can be indicative of various health conditions and may require medical attention and management.

In case of blood pressure, it is important to monitor the levels of blood pressure as low blood pressure (hypotension) as well as high blood pressure(hypertension).

Hypotension:

During low blood pressure there is decrease in the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Due to which blood flow is reduced in various organs and tissues.

Range of low blood pressure 90/60mmHg.

Symptoms of Low Blood pressure(Hypotension)

1. Dizziness and Light headedness: Inadequate flow and supply of blood to various organs brain shows these symptoms.

2. Fatigue and weakness: Reduced supply of blood in muscles causes the feeling of tiredness.

3. Fainting: If not monitoring the blood pressure and its symptoms closely there is severe drop in blood pressure (hypotension case) which results in fainting due to insufficient blood flow to the brain.

4. Feeling of coldness: Poor blood circulation results in cool and clammy skin.

5. State of rapid breathing: Body may respond with increased breathing rate to compensate for the reduced blood flow.

6. State of weak pulse: In this situation heart may pump faster or with less force to maintain blood flow and supply.

Causes of Low Blood Pressure(Hypotension)

1 Dehydration

2 Use of certain medications

3 heart Problems

4 In case of severe blood loss

5 Allergic Reactions

6 Endocrine Disorders and hormonal changes

7 Nutritional deficiencies

 Prevention of low blood pressure (Hypotension)

To prevent low blood pressure it is very important to make changes in your lifestyle.

Stay hydrated :Stay hydrated throughout the day and drink plenty of water.

Avoid sedentary life: Avoid prolong standing or sitting to prevent blood from pulling in your legs always keep moving to avoid sedentary life.

Change in position: Gradually change the positions, especially when getting up from lying or sitting to prevent sudden drops in blood pressure.

Salt intake: Increase your salt intake slightly under the guidance of your doctor, as salt can help in maintaining the low blood pressure.

Regular physical activity: Include regular, moderate exercise in your routine to improve blood circulation and cardiovascular health.

Limit alcohol consumption: Excessive drinking can lower the blood pressure.

Balance diet: Eat a well-balanced diet with sufficient nutrients, including foods rich in potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Stress Management: It is very important to manage stress by using certain relaxation techniques like- meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises.

Adequate sleep: Get enough sleep to support overall health and maintain stable blood pressure levels.

If anyone experiences continuous low blood pressure need to visit your health advisor. Low blood pressure is the symptom of underlying medical condition, such as heart problems or infections, it is very important to find out the root cause of it and take proper medications. Always consult a healthcare professional for proper evaluation and personalized treatment for low blood pressure. Self-diagnosis and self-medication can be dangerous and may not treat the underlying issues effectively.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension):

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, it is a medical condition where the force of blood against the walls of arteries is consistently too high. Hypertension is diagnosed when the blood pressure consistently exceeds 140/90mmHg or more and is considered severe if the pressure is above 160/90mmHg. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. Over the time, if it is not treated, it can cause severe health conditions such as heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure usually develops over the time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle for a long time such as not doing enough regular physical activities, unhealthy eating habits. The certain health conditions like diabetes and having obesity also increases the risk of developing high blood pressure.

Hypertension is also called as silent killer because it shows almost no symptoms. High blood pressure is a serious problem for blood vessels because there is wear and tear of the endothelial cells inside the blood vessels and there is no time to heal these cells due to continuous high blood pressure which causes serious problems like myocardial infarction, aneurysm and strokes.

Hypertension and its types

Primary/ Essential hypertension- High blood pressure that is not related to another medical condition (Silent killer).

Secondary hypertension- Another medical condition that causes high blood pressure usually occurring in the kidneys, arteries, heart or endocrine system for example if there are some problems like

Causes of hypertension

Unhealthy Diet: Too much intake of salt(sodium)saturated fats, and cholesterol can lead to elevated blood pressure. Not eating enough fruits and vegetables.

Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle (little or no regular physical activities or exercise) can increase the risk of high blood pressure.

Obesity: Being overweight or obese puts extra strain on the heart and blood vessels, leading to hypertension.

Stress: Chronic stress and anxiety can make heart to work hard which causes raise the blood pressure, and over time, it can contribute to persistent hypertension.

Smoking and Alcohol Consumption: Smoking is also one factor for increasing blood pressure and excessive alcohol intake can elevate blood pressure.

Family History: A family history of hypertension can increase the likelihood of developing high blood pressure.

Age and Gender: Blood pressure tends to rise with age, and men are more likely to develop hypertension at a younger age compared to women.

Use of Caffeinated drink: Drinking of too much coffee or other caffeine -based drinks.

 

Symptoms of high blood pressure

As mentioned earlier, high blood pressure may not always be apparent which is why it’s often referred to as silent killer. Regular blood pressure checks are crucial for early detection and prevention. Some people with high blood pressure may experiences following symptoms and always need to check these symptoms carefully.

1. Headaches:   Severe headaches especially in the morning can be a sign of high blood pressure.
2. Fatigue or confusion: Feeling of tired or experiencing confusion can be associated with high blood pressure particularly during episodes of significantly elevated broad pressure.
3. Vision problems: Blood vision or sudden changes in vision might occur when blood pressure levels are dangerously high.
4. Chest pain: Chest pain or discomfort also known as angina can be linked to high blood pressure in some cases.
5. Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath may be a symptom of severely elevated blood pressure.

However, it is important to know that many individuals with high blood pressure may not experience any noticeable symptoms until it reaches a critical level. That’s why regular blood pressure checks are essential if you have a risk factor such as family history of hypertension, obesity unhealthy diet, sedentary lifestyle, smoking or stress conditions.

Management of high blood pressure

To manage high blood pressure and prevent it’s worsening consider adopting the healthy lifestyle changes:

1. Maintaining a healthy weight: It is important to maintain healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular exercise to prevent high blood pressure.
2. Reduce of salt intake: Reduce the intake of salt and sodium through other saturated fats also.
3. Limiting alcohol consumption: limit the alcohol consumption to moderate levels or to no. It is better to avoid it totally.
4. Quit smoking:

   

   Quit smoking is good for health and avoid exposure to second hand smoke.

5. Regular physical activity: Engage in regular physical activities such as brisk walking, swimming, cycling or jogging, dancing at least for 150 minutes per week.
6.  Stress management: It is very important to manage stress by using certain relaxation techniques like- meditation, yoga, deep breathing exercises.
7. Sleep management: Get enough sleep and maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
8.  Limit caffeine intake: As excessive caffeine can temporarily raises the blood pressure.

 

      9. Reduce the intake of processed food:

Reduce the intake of processed food and high sugar fruit to promote overall heart health.

     10. Regular check-ups and medications:

Regular check-ups and monitoring of blood pressure is mandatory and proper medication under your doctor’s guidance is required.

Remember to consult with your doctor before making any significant changes to your lifestyle. If you have a high blood pressure related issue, they can provide personalized recommendations and guidance tailored to your individual needs. Most importantly leave the sedentary life .