102 50 blood pressure. Blood Pressure 102/50: What Does It Indicate?
What does a 102/50 blood pressure mean? What should you do if you have 102/50 blood pressure? Learn about easy home remedies and supplementations for 102/50 blood pressure.
Understanding the 102/50 Blood Pressure Reading
A blood pressure reading of 102/50 indicates that you are experiencing low blood pressure, also known as hypotension. This means that the pressure exerted by the blood flowing through your vessels is lower than the expected normal range.
What is the Ideal Blood Pressure Range?
The ideal blood pressure range for a healthy individual is between 90/60 and 120/80. If your blood pressure falls below 90/60, you are considered to have low blood pressure.
Causes and Symptoms of Low Blood Pressure (102/50)
Low blood pressure can be caused by various factors, including dehydration, medication side effects, pregnancy, heart problems, and hormonal imbalances. Symptoms of low blood pressure may include dizziness, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea, and fainting.
Verifying the 102/50 Reading
If you have measured your blood pressure at home and it is 102/50, it is essential to have it checked by a healthcare professional. Home blood pressure readings can be inaccurate due to factors such as equipment errors, improper technique, or environmental conditions. A doctor can confirm the accuracy of the reading and provide appropriate medical advice.
Lifestyle Changes to Manage Low Blood Pressure
There are several lifestyle changes you can make to help manage your low blood pressure, such as:
- Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water
- Increasing your salt intake, as long as it’s not contraindicated by other medical conditions
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which can lower blood pressure
- Incorporating regular exercise, such as walking or light resistance training
- Minimizing stress and practicing relaxation techniques
Medications and Supplements for Low Blood Pressure
In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend medication or supplements to help manage your low blood pressure. Common medications used to treat hypotension include:
- Fludrocortisone, which helps increase blood volume
- Midodrine, which constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure
- Caffeine, which can help raise blood pressure temporarily
Your doctor may also suggest taking supplements like salt tablets, B-complex vitamins, or iron to help address the underlying causes of your low blood pressure.
Complications of Untreated Low Blood Pressure
If left untreated, low blood pressure can lead to more serious health complications, such as:
- Heart attack or cardiac arrest
- Heart valve disorders
- Bradycardia (slow heart rate)
- Hormonal imbalances
It is important to seek medical attention and work with your healthcare provider to manage your low blood pressure to prevent these potential complications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a blood pressure of 102/50 dangerous?
Yes, a blood pressure reading of 102/50 is considered low and can be dangerous if left untreated. It is important to seek medical attention to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
What should I do if my blood pressure is 102/50?
If your blood pressure is 102/50, you should:
- Verify the reading by having it checked by a healthcare professional.
- Discuss the reading with your doctor and share any symptoms you are experiencing.
- Make lifestyle changes, such as staying hydrated, increasing salt intake, and avoiding alcohol and caffeine.
- Consider taking medication or supplements if recommended by your doctor.
- Monitor your blood pressure regularly and follow up with your healthcare provider.
Can dehydration cause a blood pressure of 102/50?
Yes, dehydration can be a common cause of low blood pressure, including a reading of 102/50. Ensuring adequate hydration by drinking plenty of water can help improve low blood pressure in these cases.
What foods can help raise low blood pressure (102/50)?
Some foods that can help raise low blood pressure include:
- Salty foods, such as olives, pickles, and soups
- Potassium-rich foods, like bananas, avocados, and leafy greens
- Caffeine-containing beverages, like coffee or tea
- Protein-rich foods, such as lean meats, poultry, and fish
Incorporating these foods into your diet may help increase your blood pressure levels.
Can stress cause a blood pressure of 102/50?
Yes, stress can be a contributing factor to low blood pressure, including a reading of 102/50. Stress can affect the body’s ability to regulate blood pressure, leading to hypotension. Managing stress through relaxation techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, may help improve low blood pressure.
When should I seek medical attention for a blood pressure of 102/50?
You should seek medical attention as soon as possible if you have a blood pressure reading of 102/50. Low blood pressure can be a sign of an underlying health condition and should be evaluated by a healthcare professional, who can provide appropriate treatment and monitoring.
Blood Pressure 102/50: What Does It Indicate?
A blood pressure of 102/50 indicates that you are having a LOW BLOOD PRESSURE which can be an immediate health crisis if the levels are too low.
This article tells you:
- What does a 102/50 blood pressure mean?
- What should you do if you have 102/50 blood pressure?
- Some easy to do home remedies and supplementations.
- Frequently asked question that will answer many of your queries regarding your 102/50 blood pressure.
The blood pressure value of 102/50 specifies the fact that the individual in question is suffering from low blood pressure or hypotension.
This is the medical condition that arises when the value of readings for the blood pressure of a person is less than [90/60].
The ideal blood pressure for an individual is between [90/60] and [120/80]. But for any reason, if the blood pressure falls below the specified readings, then the person can be said to be suffering from hypotension.
The medical condition of hypotension means that the pressure exercised by the blood flowing through the vessels over those is lower than the expected value.
And the same can be said in terms of the heart pumping blood to all the parts of the body. Low BP indicates that the heart is not able to pump blood to all the body parts to the extent that has been termed as necessary. And therefore, more complicated medical problems arise because of Low BP.
The effects or symptoms of these problems are not visible in the overall health of an individual. But these do certainly affect the individual in more ways than just one.
Here is a set-by-step procedure to follow when you figure out you have a blood pressure of 102/50.
If your blood is 102/50 and you have checked the same in your home setup, it is highly recommended to get it checked at your doctor’s office.
A trained professional has to clinically assess your condition and confirm that your 102/50 is, in fact, clinically valid.
There are instances when your reading at home setup might give you a reading which is incorrectly reported. It could be because of an error in reading it, damage to your device, your physical or mental condition on that particular day, etc.
Therefore, a doctor has to assess it over the course of 7 – 30 days periodically before he/she can confirm the accurate stage of your blood pressure.
In some cases, a patient might report wrong blood pressure in a hospital setup, called white coat hypertension. Here the patient may show higher blood pressure than their actual because of the anxiety inside a hospital environment.
In contrast, some patients may have masked hypertension in which the person may show lower blood pressure at clinical setup, but at home, they may have higher blood pressure.
All these conditions are linked to physiology and psychology and, therefore, better to be validated by a doctor.
Even the small changes that you make in your life can lead to having a really impressive effect on your overall health. And, the same can be said regarding the problem of low blood pressure.
If you choose to make reasonable changes in your lifestyle, you can improve your blood pressure to a significant level.
Here are some of the changes that you can bring into your lifestyle to improve your health and your blood pressure level:
You do not need to hesitate from consulting with a physiotherapist about the problems that you are having. Through a relationship of mutual trust, you will be able to get a prescription that will be best suited for your body and overall health.
Following are the prescribed medicines that are greatly helpful for people suffering from low blood pressure.
There are significant changes that you can see in your health if you were to eat healthily every day. And particularly in the case of hypotension, you should know what to eat and what not to.
Some of the comorbidities associated with low blood pressure include heart attack, cardiac arrest, heart valve disorder, bradycardia, and hormonal imbalance.
When you have 102/50, the above-mentioned comorbidities may follow; if correctly, medical attention is not sought.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to treat your hypotension, get it back to a normal level of 120/80 and maintain it.
Even stress is linked to hypotension in some patients. Since the human body reacts differently to different situations, not necessarily depression and anxiety lead to hypertension, but hypotension too.
This is why it is important to get medical attention rather than treating yourself so that the root cause will be rectified and corrected.
Sometimes managing blood pressure is all about supplementing your body with the right diet. Food is undoubtedly the best primary source to supplement your body.
However, in the current scenarios, we all know how much adultered our foodstuff is, and most of us are pushed towards processed foods to feed ourselves in this fast-paced world.
All these food are high in sugar and sodium and doesn’t contain any vital nutrients that are important for a healthy heart.
This is where some of the nutraceutical-based blood pressure supplements come in handy. These products combine all critical nutrients your heart craves, thereby assisting the better function of your cardiovascular system.
Generally, these supplements are a concoction of herbs, plant-based products, dairy products, and some animal products. They are 100% organic and natural and don’t contain any harmful chemicals.
If you are hearing about these segments of products for the first time, to start with, you may blindly go for Blood Pressure Support from Vita Balance Inc, Blood Pressure Optimizer from HFL, or Corsanum, marketed by PLT Group.
The only one thing to keep in mind is that choose the best supplement that promote healthy blood pressure, because when it comes to the heart, there is no taking of risk!
Low Blood Pressure or hypotension is not a problem to be made light of. If done so, it will only lead to more complications shortly. Rather than disregarding this problem, consulting with a professional physiotherapist will do you no harm.
Together, you can come up with the best solutions for you, especially when your blood pressure reading is 102/50.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the blood pressure, and what are the normal values?
Blood pressure is the pressure that is exerted by the blood flowing through arteries over those. Alongside that, this is the efficiency with which the blood is pumped by the heart to all the parts of the body through the circulatory system.
The normal values for blood pressure are between [90/60] and [120/80]. If a person has a blood pressure equivalent to this much, then it means that the blood will be flowing through the arteries relatively easily.
2. What is considered to be high blood pressure?
Blood pressure over the value of [130/80] is considered high blood pressure. This signifies that high pressure is being exerted by the blood flowing through the vessels over those.
And therefore, it is difficult for the human heart to be able to pump blood to all the parts of the body rather efficiently. This is a problem that can arise when the size of the vessels is contracted compared to the original size.
3. What is considered to be low blood pressure?
A blood pressure lesser than the value of [90/60] is termed low blood pressure. This type of value means that low pressure is put forward by the blood over the vessels that are carrying it. It can also be taken as a measure that, the blood is not able to reach all the parts of the body.
Or, the heart is not capable of circulating blood to all the parts of the body in an effective way. This problem in blood pressure is mainly the effect of dehydration and pregnancy.
4. What are hypertension and hypotension? Are they both the same as high and low blood pressure?
Hypertension is the condition that emerges when a person is having high blood pressure. Because of contraction in vessels, the blood can not flow through the vessels efficiently, and therefore, high pressure is exerted over the blood vessels, this particular condition is high blood pressure, also referred to as hypertension.
Hypotension is the condition that comes into effect when the blood pressure of a person is lower compared to the ideal value of blood pressure. This means that the heart is unable to pump blood through the blood vessels to all the body parts. This type of situation when observed is called low blood pressure, or hypotension.
5. What will happen to your general health when you have high blood pressure?
High blood pressure puts you at an imminent risk of arteries rupture because of the high pressure applied over those by the circulating blood. This can, in turn, affect the circulation of blood to all the parts of the body, and your heart itself. And, the latter part can lead you to some serious heart diseases. The high pressure applied over the heart walls can put you close to the risk of heart attack and heart failure.
6. What causes high blood pressure and low blood pressure?
The medical conditions of high blood pressure and low blood pressure are both effects of the lifestyle that we lead. This means that if we adapt to a lifestyle that is in line with our body and overall physical fitness, then we will have ideal blood pressure.
But, if our lifestyle is deviated from what we had started, some medical conditions can arise. High blood pressure and low blood pressure are some of those problems.
7. What are the risks of having high blood pressure?
The most serious risk that is faced by an individual that is suffering from high blood pressure is the risk of heart attack, heart failure, or some chronic disease related to the heart.
Moreover, there are also the additional risks of strokes, vision loss, diabetes, kidney failure, unresponsiveness to external stimuli, chronic chest pain, artery damage, and vascular dementia.
8. What can I do to lower my blood pressure?
To lower your blood pressure, the foremost step should be to limit the intake of sodium salts. Then, it will be good for you to opt for a healthy lifestyle; eat healthy meals and exercise daily. Try to maintain your weight to healthy proportions. Limit the intake of alcohol and caffeine-related beverages, and quit smoking.
Also, you need to have an adequate amount of rest every day and keep your stress and anxiety in proper check. If you continue to face high blood pressure problems even after making these changes in your lifestyle, it will be good for you to consult with a physiotherapist to discuss your blood pressure medications.
9. What are the risks of having low blood pressure?
The harmful effects that are associated with low blood pressure are not as prominent as what is associated with high blood pressure, but they can serve to be just as much harmful in the long run. Low blood pressure can lead to lightheadedness, dizziness, and confusion for a prolonged period.
This is a condition that can make you weak physically as well as mentally. Low blood pressure leads to a depletion in the effectiveness of motor senses, and the subject is likely to faint from time to time. This condition can also lead to blurred vision and can damage peripheral nerves over a long time.
10. What can I do to increase my blood pressure?
Increase the usage of table salts in your diet, and drink plenty of water. Limit your intake of alcohol as it is a dehydrating agent. Increase your diet by taking small meals multiple times with low carbs. Exercise daily and try to take up a lifestyle that will be good for your health and physical well-being.
Try to maintain a body weight that will be good as per your physical stature and age. Avoid changing positions abruptly, and wear compression stockings to improve blood flow in the legs. Also, consult a physiotherapist regarding your medications for low blood pressure.
11. Can smoking and alcohol affect my blood pressure?
Smoking and alcohol have an active impact on the blood pressure levels of an individual. These can lead to an effective change in the size of arteries that carry blood to all the parts of the body.
Heavy intake of alcohol can increase blood pressure in individuals to a significantly high level and this can even lead to long-term blood pressure issues in the individual. On the other hand, smoking is as bad as it can be. It leads to the contraction of blood vessels, which increases the pressure of blood over the heart walls. This puts you at risk of heart disease.
12. How to correctly check my blood pressure at home?
If you want to check your blood pressure at home, you can use portable blood pressure monitors to do so. These are highly adaptable and can help provide you with your blood pressure levels closest to accurate.
But if you are seeking precision in the readings, then it will be good if you were to follow certain measures. For once, avoid intake of caffeine and alcohol before taking the reading. And, have a proper rest of nearly 10 minutes before measuring your blood pressure.
13. Why is it important to visit a doctor to confirm high/low blood pressure?
It is important to visit a doctor regarding blood pressure for the sake of the precision of the outcome or the result of the readings. Moreover, in a proper medical facility and care of professionals, you will be able to get guidance about how to keep your blood pressure in check if it is not per your ideal blood pressure.
Also, you can get a consultation regarding the changes that you will need to make in your lifestyle to bring your blood pressure back in check.
14. Should you be worried about high blood pressure during pregnancy?
High blood pressure during the latter half of the pregnancy is not that rare of an occurrence. However, it is not something to make light of either. If not treated properly, or significant steps are not taken regarding it, this high blood pressure may pose danger to the health of the parent as well as the baby.
This type of high blood pressure or hypertension is called gestational hypertension, and it is not long-lasting. It goes away after the delivery of the baby.
15. What are some of the symptoms to watch out for in high blood pressure?
The symptoms of high blood pressure are not something that can be ignored readily. These symptoms include severe headache, anxiety attacks, shortness of breath, nosebleeds, blood spots in the eyes, intense fatigue, blurred or distorted vision, and vomiting or nausea. These symptoms are not something to be taken lightly.
High blood pressure is not an incurable problem, but measures are needed to be taken against it in the due time. So, don’t make light of the symptoms and consult a physiotherapist regarding these.
16. What foods should you eat to lower blood pressure?
To lower blood pressure eat a diet that is rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Besides this, it is good to take short meals that are low in curbs. Instead of deep-fried products, it will be good if you were to incline towards a diet that is mainly consisting of vegetables like spinach, broccoli, and other leafy green vegetables.
Consume lots of low-fat poultry and dairy products. These will help enable a healthy diet for you and help you lean towards a healthy lifestyle.
17. What are the best herbs and spices for high blood pressure?
Many known herbs and spices are proven to have a significant effect on high blood pressure. Significantly, basil, parsley, Chinese cat’s claw, celery seeds, Brahmi, thyme, garlic, and ginger are the herbs that are most commonly made use of by people that are suffering from high blood pressure. Along with these, cardamom, cloves, ajwain, green oat, and flaxseeds are the spices that help manage high blood pressure.
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102/50 blood pressure – is it good or bad?
Home > Resources > Blood pressure lookup > 102/50
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure throughout your life is one of the most important things you can do for long-term health and longevity. Whether you’re looking up a blood pressure of 102/50 for yourself or a loved one or simply out of your own curiosity, you’re taking the right steps by being informed and empowering yourself or someone else to be their own best advocate.
According to the American Heart Association, a blood pressure reading of 102/50 would be considered
hypotension, or low blood pressure. Low blood pressure, or hypotension, is defined by a systolic reading (the top number) of less than 90 or a diastolic reading (the bottom number) of less than 60. Low blood pressure generally isn’t considered an issue unless it causes symptoms (such as dizziness, light-headedness, or fainting) or unless it drops suddenly.
Okay, now you know how to classify a blood pressure of 102/50, but now what do you do with that information? Read on to learn more or look up another blood pressure reading.
What is a good blood pressure reading?
According to the American Heart Association, a normal blood pressure reading is lower than 120/80. While there is no specific number for low blood pressure, most experts say blood pressure is too low when it causes symptoms or drops suddenly. In general, though, low blood pressure can be considered anything under 90/60.
More information about a blood pressure reading of 102/50
A blood pressure reading of 102/50 is pronounced “102 over 50.” You may also see it written colloquially as 102/50 bp.
In a blood pressure reading of 102/50, 102 is called the systolic number and 50 is called the diastolic number. Systolic refers to the part of the cardiac cycle in which the heart contracts and pumps blood from the chambers into the arteries, and diastolic refers to the part of the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood. You may also hear the systolic and diastolic numbers referred to as the top number and the bottom number.
Systolic and diastolic readings are measured in mmHg, which is a unit of pressure equal to the pressure that can support a column of mercury 1 millimeter high. Hg is the chemical symbol for mercury. For a blood pressure reading of 102/50, you would pronounce it “102 over 50 millimeters of mercury.”
How do you measure blood pressure?
In a doctor’s office, blood pressure is traditionally taken manually by a doctor or nurse with a sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer is a medical instrument with an inflatable cuff and pressure meter or dial. The sphygmomanometer is placed snugly around the upper arm and is inflated by hand, and the doctor or nurse listens to the brachial artery with a stethoscope as they gradually reduce the pressure of the cuff. When the whooshing sound of blood is first heard through the stethoscope, the doctor or nurse makes note of the reading on the pressure meter. This indicates the systolic blood pressure reading. When the sound disappears, the reading on the pressure meter indicates the diastolic pressure reading.
Blood pressure can also be taken at home using a number of a digital devices. They typically consist of an inflatable cuff and digital display and simply work by placing the cuff around the upper arm and pressing a button, after which the cuff inflatess, deflates, and displays a reading. The most popular blood pressure machines for home use are made by Omron, Beurer, and Paramed, amongst many others.
One thing to keep in mind is that blood pressure can vary by time of day and activity level, so if you’re taking it at home it’s important to check it around the same time each day and rest for a few minutes ahead of time to limit as many variables as possible. It can also be affected by eating.
Blood pressure tends to rise in the hours before waking and then drop in the afternoon and evening before dropping to its lowest point while sleeping, so one popular recommendation is to check it just after waking up and just before bed to identify trends in how it varies from morning until night. Because of this, you might find that if your blood pressure is 102/50 in the morning, it might be lower before bed, and vice versa. Of course, these are just general rules of thumb and may vary by the individual.
Relevant HSA expenses
If you have an HSA as part of your health insurance plan, you’ll be pleased to find that blood pressure monitors, blood pressure cuffs, and wrist blood pressure monitors are all eligible, including smart blood pressure monitors like the offerings from Qardio and Withings.
How the heck do you pronounce sphygmomanometer?
Sphygmomanometer is pronounced sfig-moh-muh-‘nah-mi-ter. Easy!
Explore blood pressure readings similar to 102/50
The following table shows related blood pressure readings because sometimes just one number can make all the difference.
Please note that if a field is blank, it’s not an accident—it simply means a record doesn’t exist for that particular blood pressure. This could be because going forward or backward would create a blood pressure reading that wouldn’t make sense, or because that blood pressure simply doesn’t exist in our records.
← Prev systolic num | Next systolic num → |
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101/50 blood pressure | 103/50 blood pressure |
← Prev diastolic num | Next diastolic num → |
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102/49 blood pressure | 102/51 blood pressure |
Sources
- Understanding blood pressure readings – American Heart Association
- High blood pressure – Mayo Clinic
- Get the most out of home blood pressure monitoring – Mayo Clinic
- Blood pressure – Wikipedia
- How to pronounce sphygmomanometer – Dictionary. com
Disclaimer
The information on this page is intended to be an educational reference and is not to be taken as medical advice. If you think you’re having a hypertensive or hypotensive emergency, or if you’re having any kind of medical emergency, please call 911 immediately.
What is lower and upper blood pressure: what is the difference and what is their norm for a person – March 26, 2023
Upper and lower pressure should always be considered in the complex Perhaps everyone faces pressure measurement sooner or later. And if he doesn’t face it himself, then there are relatives who need to measure blood pressure regularly. The reasons for this can be different – not only problems with the pressure itself or diseases of the cardiovascular system, but also other diseases, such as diabetes. However, the results still need to be somehow interpreted and understood whether something needs to be done, go to the doctor or take medicine.
Arterial (aka blood) pressure is the force with which blood presses against the walls of blood vessels. When measuring it, two types are determined: with each heartbeat, blood pressure fluctuates between the largest (systolic) and the smallest (diastolic). In colloquial speech, they are called upper and lower, but regardless of each other, these numbers do not mean anything – they need to be evaluated precisely in the complex.
– The upper number – systolic blood pressure – shows the pressure in the arteries at the moment when the heart contracts and pushes blood into the arteries, it depends on the strength of the contraction of the heart, the resistance exerted by the walls of the blood vessels, and the number of heartbeats per unit time, – explains cardiologist Maria Benevskaya. – Therefore, in general, we can say that this indicator reflects the work of the heart, although, of course, other factors also take part in this process.
Maria Benevskaya – Associate Professor of the Department of Hospital Therapy named after. Academician P.E. Lukom Medical Faculty of the Russian National Research Medical University named after A. I. N.I. Pirogova, PhD, cardiologist, therapist, functional diagnostics doctor.
The lower number shows the pressure in the arteries at the time of relaxation of the heart muscle, it reflects the tone of the peripheral vessels.
Pressure indicators are individual, and working, that is, normal for a particular person, someone’s pressure may be higher, someone’s lower. Nevertheless, a certain average norm still exists.
— If you do not take babies, children and people of extremely old age, who have slightly their own standards, the average figures for normal pressure indicators are 120 to 80 or 130 to 90, says cardiologist Natalya Gulyaeva. These are average figures, they can be different for different people. For example, patients with diabetes have slightly more stringent criteria – their pressure is considered normal if it is 120 over 80, but not more. And in a very elderly person, normal working pressure can be 140 to 90, but this is the extreme position.
Natalia Gulyaeva — cardiologist at the New Hospital, Candidate of Medical Sciences.
The ratio between the upper and lower pressures must be taken into account. According to doctors, the ideal difference between them is within 40-50 mm Hg. Art. That is, for example, 120 to 80, 100 to 60, 110 to 70. Very low (40, 50, 30) lower pressure is a reason to see a doctor, it can talk about cardiological or other pathologies, exhaustion. An increase in the difference between the lower and upper pressure can also be the result of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine. Too high lower pressure is also not the norm – it says that vascular tone is increased, and this can be fraught with a stroke or other complications. A small difference between upper and lower pressure may indicate the presence of atherosclerosis of the aorta (deposition of cholesterol in the largest vessel), damage to the vessels of the kidneys, aortic aneurysm (pathological expansion of a separate section of the aorta with the possibility of rupture or dissection of the walls due to excessive load), anemia (decrease in hemoglobin level in the blood) – and this is not the whole list of pathologies.
The frequency of measurements varies from person to person. People with cardiovascular diseases, lung diseases, diabetes mellitus should regularly monitor the pressure. Smokers also need to regularly measure the pressure. In other cases, the frequency of pressure measurement will depend on the patient’s complaints and the doctor’s recommendations.
– It is obligatory to measure the pressure of people who have any complaints, regardless of whether there are diseases known to them. Feeling good, but suddenly you have a headache, dizziness or shortness of breath? It is better to measure the pressure, says Natalya Gulyaeva.
It is very important to measure pressure correctly. Some of the mistakes that we make during this procedure lead to the fact that the tonometer gives false readings, and further actions will depend on what it shows. There are not so many of them. The most common is to measure pressure on the run, somewhere between deeds and events. Doctors advise taking a short break before measuring – from 10 to 30 minutes – then the indicators will be as close to the truth as possible.
The next common mistake is incorrect body position when measuring pressure. For the most accurate measurements, you need to sit comfortably, put the cuff on your left arm just above the bend of the elbow – at the same level as the heart. We put on the cuff so that it does not squeeze the arm strongly, this should not cause pain. The hand is located at the level of the heart, ideally you can put it on the table.
Measure blood pressure correctly at rest and in a certain posture
Infographics: Vitaly Kalistratov / City portals
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Today in pharmacies you can often find blood pressure monitors, the cuff of which is put on the wrist, they are more compact and easier to use. However, doctors say that blood pressure monitors, the cuff of which is worn over the elbow, are more revealing and, if accurate data are needed, it is better to use them.
How to reduce blood pressure without drugs
Some of the simplest ways from a famous Russian cardiologist
AFTER 50 YEARS EVERY SECOND IN RUSSIA SUFFERS FROM INCREASED PRESSURE. MOST KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE, BUT ALMOST HALF OF THE CITIZENS ARE TREATED INDEPENDENTLY And risk getting complications in the form of strokes, heart attacks, etc. Meanwhile, doctors know effective ways to deal with high blood pressure. And sometimes they are quite simple. Martin Holle, a German cardiologist at the Technical University of Munich, has named simple ways to lower blood pressure without drugs. To do this, you need to eat less bread, cheese and sausage, salty, but more vegetables and walk at least 15 minutes daily. But running or cycling is not useful at all. Well-known Russian cardiologist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Hospital Therapy at Sechenov University Yuri BELENKOV is convinced that another way is more effective in Russia. When and how to reduce pressure?
VISIT THE CARDIOLOGIST – Yuri Nikitich, many are sure that 140 is almost normal pressure. – According to international recommendations, ideally a person should have a pressure of 120 over 80 at any age. There is a concept of high normal pressure – no more than 130 to 80-85. Anything higher, that is, 140 to 90 or more, is already hypertension. With the exception of people 75 years of age and older, who have a pronounced narrowing of the carotid arteries that feed the brain. For them, the upper pressure limit is set to 140/90 or 145/95 mmHg Art., because lower pressure can lead to poor nutrition of the brain. – When do you need to reduce the pressure? – As long as a person has high normal pressure or borderline indicators, then any non-drug methods can be used – both diet and physical activity. I think that number one among these measures for our country is the complete cessation or a sharp reduction in alcohol and smoking. This is more effective than proper nutrition and exercise combined. If the pressure is stable at 150 and above, a healthy lifestyle alone will not solve the problem. You have to take medicine. And not when the pressure rises, but for prevention – so that it does not rise.
As a rule, all the medicines we prescribe begin to work after 2-3 hours, maximum 12 hours, and remain effective for 24-27 hours. So do not think that if you take a pill, you will immediately feel better. The medicine will begin to act only after a few hours. Yes, there are drugs like captopril that can be put under the tongue – and the pressure will drop in 10-15 minutes. But they are used in emergency cases at very high pressure. For planned treatment, it is better to use drugs that reduce pressure slowly and gradually. It is also important to remember: when the pressure has dropped to normal levels, you can not cancel the pills or reduce the dose. – Are there people with low blood pressure, they can not be treated? – If a woman is hypotonic, that is, she always had low blood pressure, say, 100-110 mm Hg. Art., then for her 130 is already high blood pressure. And she might need medication. Everything is individual. If a person feels unwell at a pressure of 140, drug therapy should be started. If relatives in the family had hypertension – mother, grandmother, etc., then a man is 35-40 years old, and a woman should visit a cardiologist before giving birth. Very often, women from such “hypertensive” families develop high blood pressure during pregnancy or after childbirth.
MORE MOVE, LESS SALT – What are the proven and most effective non-drug treatments for hypertension? – “Beginners” hypertensive patients help physical exercise. When a person physically loads himself – within reasonable limits and in accordance with age – as a rule, the pressure after the load decreases. But this does not mean that you can eat four cutlets or a hamburger, and then go for a run and everything will be fine. Physical activity and proper nutrition work together. Choose what brings you pleasure. I always tell the wives of my patients: if your husband loves to walk, there is no need to force him to play tennis, he loves to swim in the pool – do not force him to ride a bike. The load level should be such that it does not exceed the maximum heart rate recommended by the cardiologist, for example, 120-130 beats per minute. To do this, regularly measure the pulse. Should salt be limited? – We introduce salt restrictions – a salt-free diet – only for severe hypertensive patients who have kidney damage. Simply removing the salt will not cure hypertension. Sodium is needed in the body. However, do not exceed the daily requirement for salt – it is about 5 g, or half a teaspoon. Usually we get this rate by using products that we buy in the store. Therefore, we can recommend simply not adding salt to ready-made dishes.
NAVAGA AGAINST LOBSTER – Is the Mediterranean diet also effective for preventing high blood pressure? – Yes, but there is nothing tricky in it. It is called Mediterranean because it was first described in the Mediterranean region. But this does not mean that you need to eat lobsters and avocados with pineapples. We use ordinary vegetables – garlic, onions (mind you, I started with them), tomatoes, cucumbers. In addition, olives, olive oil, but you can also use ordinary sunflower or linseed, rapeseed. From seafood – ordinary fish. The further north it is, the better. The most useful is the one that the cat loves – that is, not salmon, but some kind of low-fat fish. Optimally – cod (cheap saffron cod and blue whiting, by the way, also from the cod family). You can eat durum wheat spaghetti. Plus wholemeal bread. And no buns and cakes, of course. That’s the whole Mediterranean diet. In general, if your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, sugar are normal, then you don’t need to torment yourself with diets. You can eat everything – within reason.
Source: Arguments and Facts
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A few simple ways from a well-known Russian cardiologist MOST KNOW ABOUT THE DISEASE, BUT ALMOST HALF OF THE CITIZENS ARE TREATED INDEPENDENTLY And risk getting complications in the form of strokes, heart attacks, etc. Meanwhile, doctors know effective ways to deal with high blood pressure. And sometimes they are quite simple. Martin Holle, a German cardiologist at the Technical University of Munich, has named simple ways to lower blood pressure without drugs. To do this, you need to eat less bread, cheese and sausage, salty, but more vegetables and walk at least 15 minutes daily. But running or cycling is not useful at all. Well-known Russian cardiologist, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Hospital Therapy at Sechenov University Yuri BELENKOV is convinced that another way is more effective in Russia. When and how to reduce pressure?
VISIT THE CARDIOLOGIST – Yuri Nikitich, many are sure that 140 is almost normal pressure. – According to international recommendations, ideally a person should have a pressure of 120 over 80 at any age. There is a concept of high normal pressure – no more than 130 to 80-85. Anything higher, that is, 140 to 90 or more, is already hypertension. With the exception of people 75 years of age and older, who have a pronounced narrowing of the carotid arteries that feed the brain. For them, the upper pressure limit is set to 140/90 or 145/95 mmHg Art., because lower pressure can lead to poor nutrition of the brain. – When do you need to reduce the pressure? – As long as a person has high normal pressure or borderline indicators, then any non-drug methods can be used – both diet and physical activity. I think that number one among these measures for our country is the complete cessation or a sharp reduction in alcohol and smoking. This is more effective than proper nutrition and exercise combined. If the pressure is stable at 150 and above, a healthy lifestyle alone will not solve the problem. You have to take medicine. And not when the pressure rises, but for prevention – so that it does not rise.
As a rule, all the medicines we prescribe begin to work after 2-3 hours, maximum 12 hours, and remain effective for 24-27 hours. So do not think that if you take a pill, you will immediately feel better. The medicine will begin to act only after a few hours. Yes, there are drugs like captopril that can be put under the tongue – and the pressure will drop in 10-15 minutes. But they are used in emergency cases at very high pressure. For planned treatment, it is better to use drugs that reduce pressure slowly and gradually. It is also important to remember: when the pressure has dropped to normal levels, you can not cancel the pills or reduce the dose. – Are there people with low blood pressure, they can not be treated? – If a woman is hypotonic, that is, she always had low blood pressure, say, 100-110 mm Hg. Art., then for her 130 is already high blood pressure. And she might need medication. Everything is individual. If a person feels unwell at a pressure of 140, drug therapy should be started. If relatives in the family had hypertension – mother, grandmother, etc., then a man is 35-40 years old, and a woman should visit a cardiologist before giving birth. Very often, women from such “hypertensive” families develop high blood pressure during pregnancy or after childbirth.
MORE MOVE, LESS SALT – What are the proven and most effective non-drug treatments for hypertension? – “Beginners” hypertensive patients help physical exercise. When a person physically loads himself – within reasonable limits and in accordance with age – as a rule, the pressure after the load decreases. But this does not mean that you can eat four cutlets or a hamburger, and then go for a run and everything will be fine. Physical activity and proper nutrition work together. Choose what brings you pleasure. I always tell the wives of my patients: if your husband loves to walk, there is no need to force him to play tennis, he loves to swim in the pool – do not force him to ride a bike. The load level should be such that it does not exceed the maximum heart rate recommended by the cardiologist, for example, 120-130 beats per minute. To do this, regularly measure the pulse. Should salt be limited? – We introduce salt restrictions – a salt-free diet – only for severe hypertensive patients who have kidney damage. Simply removing the salt will not cure hypertension. Sodium is needed in the body. However, do not exceed the daily requirement for salt – it is about 5 g, or half a teaspoon. Usually we get this rate by using products that we buy in the store. Therefore, we can recommend simply not adding salt to ready-made dishes.
NAVAGA AGAINST LOBSTER – Is the Mediterranean diet also effective for preventing high blood pressure? – Yes, but there is nothing tricky in it. It is called Mediterranean because it was first described in the Mediterranean region. But this does not mean that you need to eat lobsters and avocados with pineapples. We use ordinary vegetables – garlic, onions (mind you, I started with them), tomatoes, cucumbers. In addition, olives, olive oil, but you can also use ordinary sunflower or linseed, rapeseed. From seafood – ordinary fish. The further north it is, the better. The most useful is the one that the cat loves – that is, not salmon, but some kind of low-fat fish. Optimally – cod (cheap saffron cod and blue whiting, by the way, also from the cod family). You can eat durum wheat spaghetti. Plus wholemeal bread. And no buns and cakes, of course.