Symptoms of High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Here’s how to be alert for potential warning signs of this ‘silent killer.’

By Cathy CassataMedically Reviewed by Paul Boyce, MD, MPH

Reviewed: August 11, 2022

Medically Reviewed

It’s important to get your blood pressure checked on a regular basis.Masterfile

If you have high blood pressure, you’ll probably experience no signs or symptoms of the condition, even if you have extremely high blood pressure.

In very rare cases, and if blood pressure reaches dangerous levels, a person may get headaches or more nosebleeds than normal.

But in the majority of cases, there are no signs or symptoms of hypertension, which is why it has been dubbed the “silent killer.”

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New Blood Pressure Guidelines: The Numbers That Really Matter

If high blood pressure goes undetected for a long period of time, the condition can damage your heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other parts of your body.

For some people, it takes being diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke, or kidney failure to learn that they also have high blood pressure. (1)

How Is High Blood Pressure Diagnosed?

The only way to determine if you have high blood pressure is to have it tested. It is an easy and painless test and can be done in your doctor’s office.

To be prepared for the test:

• Avoid drinking coffee or smoking cigarettes for 30 minutes before the test.
• Go to the bathroom before the test.
• Sit for five minutes before being tested. (2)

A gauge, stethoscope, and a blood pressure cuff are often used to measure your blood pressure.

While you’re sitting down, your healthcare provider will wrap an inflatable arm cuff around your arm and measure your blood pressure using a pressure-measuring gauge. Throughout the test, try to avoid moving your arm.

Since your blood pressure varies throughout the day, your doctor will most likely take two to three blood pressure readings during your visit at three or more separate appointments to confirm that it’s elevated.

Your doctor may also measure your blood pressure in both arms to see if there is a difference. (3)

Blood pressure readings include two numbers, given in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

The first number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (contracts), and is called systolic pressure.

The second number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (when your heart is relaxed and filling with blood), and is called diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure measurements fall into the following five categories:

Normal Blood Pressure Blood pressure below 120/80 mmHg is considered normal. Once you get above this range, your risk of cardiovascular disease increases.

Elevated Blood Pressure When the readings consistently range from 120 to 129 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic, it is called elevated. People with elevated blood pressure are at an increased risk for developing high blood pressure and should take steps to control it, including following a healthy diet and getting regular exercise.

Hypertension Stage 1 This is when blood pressure consistently ranges from 130 to 139 mmHg systolic or 80 to 89 mmHg diastolic. Patients who have hypertension stage 1 will likely be prescribed lifestyle modification to lower blood pressure. Medication may also be considered based on risk of cardiovascular disease.

Hypertension Stage 2 This is when blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher. At this stage, doctors are likely to prescribe medication to lower blood pressure in conjunction with lifestyle changes.

Hypertensive Crisis This is an occurrence of high blood pressure that requires medical attention. If you have a blood pressure reading of 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes and test again. If it is consistently this high, contact your doctor immediately. If blood pressure is higher than 180/120 mm Hg and you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness and weakness, change in vision, and difficulty speaking, you may have organ damage and should call 911. (4)

What Other Tests Will I Need?

If you have high blood pressure, your doctor may also order the following tests to check for more signs of heart disease:

• Urine test
• Blood tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Cholesterol test (5)

Taking Your Own Blood Pressure

To get more accurate readings of your blood pressure, your doctor may ask you to record your blood pressure at home and at work with your own automated blood pressure monitor.

Doing so can help determine if treatment is working, or if your condition is getting worse.

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends an automatic, cuff-style upper arm monitor for at-home use.

Before measuring your blood pressure, do not smoke, drink caffeinated beverages, or exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test. Rest for at least five minutes before the measurements and sit still with your back straight and supported. Feet should be flat on the floor and not crossed. Your arm should also be supported on a flat surface like a table with the upper arm at heart level.

Follow the instructions that come with your monitor or are provided by your healthcare provider.

Take readings at the same time every day and take two to three each time about a minute apart and record your results.

Finally, make sure not to take measurements over clothing. (6)

Additional reporting by Ashley Welch

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Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

1. What Are the Symptoms of High Blood Pressure? American Heart Association. October 31, 2016.
2. High Blood Pressure. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. March 24, 2022.
3. Blood Pressure Test. Mayo Clinic. May 27, 2022.
4. Understanding Blood Pressure Readings. American Heart Association.
5. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Diagnosis. Mayo Clinic. July 1, 2021.
6. Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home. American Heart Association. November 30, 2017.

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Blood Pressure 101/58: What Does It Indicate?

A blood pressure of 101/58 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 101/58 blood pressure mean?
• What should you do if you have 101/58 blood pressure?
• Some easy to do home remedies and supplementations.
• Frequently asked question that will answer many of your queries regarding your 101/58 blood pressure.

The blood pressure value of 101/58 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 101/58.

If your blood is 101/58 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 101/58 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 101/58, 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 101/58.

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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Blood pressure norms by age – Medtechnika – Articles and reviews about medical technology

Virtually every medical examination begins with a blood pressure measurement. It is worth pointing out that for many people, the procedure for measuring pressure is a familiar and obligatory ritual. Measuring pressure is really not difficult. But in order to understand the readings of the tonometer, it is useful to know what pressure is considered normal for a person, based on his gender and age.

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure belongs to the category of the most important physiological parameters that determine the state of health. The amount of pressure on the walls of blood vessels, which is measured in mm Hg. Art., is constantly changing, and the presence of even small deviations is reflected in the well-being of a person. Today, it takes less than a minute to take a blood pressure reading. The use of modern digital electronic blood pressure monitors allows the patient to control pressure fluctuations without resorting to outside help.

But the first experiments aimed at measuring blood pressure using non-invasive research methods were actively conducted already at the end of the 19th century, step by step bringing scientists-innovators closer to creating the simplest, most convenient and accurate mercury device, more advanced versions of which actively used in the second half of the last century. Today, this procedure has become extremely simple, but how to understand the numbers obtained? In other words, what pressure is the norm for a person?

Types of blood pressure

To assess blood pressure, it is customary to use two indicators – upper and lower pressure:

• upper (systolic) – blood pressure of the artery, measured during contraction of the heart muscle;
• lower (diastolic) – characterizes the resistance force in the peripheral vessels.

When fixing the readings of the tonometer, the value of the systolic (upper) pressure is always noted first, and then the diastolic (lower) pressure. It is clear that abstract figures obtained at home do not provide enough information, since there is no single norm for blood pressure readings. In addition, there are several levels of normal pressure:

• optimal pressure values ​​- for systolic pressure do not exceed 120 mm Hg. Art., and for diastolic – are at least 80 mm Hg. Art.;
• normal pressure – suggests a range of indicators for upper pressure – ranging from 120 to 126 mm Hg. Art., and for the lower – from 80 to 84 mm Hg. Art.;
• at elevated normal pressure, upper pressure readings range from 130 to 139 mmHg. Art., and the lower – from 85 to 89 mm Hg. Art.

But these are general (averaged) indicators that provide very little information without taking into account the gender and age of the patient. To get a more accurate picture of the state of health, the doctor uses pressure norms according to the age of the patient as a guide.

What is normal blood pressure based on age and gender?

Blood pressure indicators change throughout life and this is due to many factors – a decrease in the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, narrowing of their lumen due to the formation of cholesterol plaques, changes in blood parameters. The resistance of blood vessels decreases, their walls stretch, resulting in a change in blood flow. However, age-related changes in systolic and diastolic pressure readings are not so significant, they increase gradually.

It is important to understand that in such tables of pressure norms by age, only average indicators are given without taking into account individual characteristics – body weight, lifestyle, occupation and physical activity, chronic diseases and medications taken. Nevertheless, they give a general idea of ​​​​admissible blood pressure indicators, so that in case of a sharply marked tendency to increased or decreased pressure, consult a doctor in a timely manner.

What should be the indicators for children and adolescents? They have their own blood pressure norms:

What should I do if my blood pressure readings are very abnormal? Taking medication on your own is an extremely risky move. The type of drug and its dosage, as well as the regimen for the use of drugs, should be prescribed by the doctor.

How often should the pressure be measured?

Therapists, cardiologists, neuropathologists strongly advise to make regular monitoring of blood pressure indicators – it is much easier to correlate their sudden changes with certain symptoms (headaches, dizziness, cardiac disorders). But will the data obtained be objective?

Single blood pressure measurements are not very informative. To obtain an accurate picture of the patient’s condition requires regular measurement over a certain period of time. For people suffering from hypertension and other diseases of the cardiovascular system, such measurements are vital – they allow you to adjust the intake of drugs that reduce blood pressure.

Experts recommend measuring blood pressure twice a day (after waking up and in the evening). Since many factors affect blood pressure, doctors recommend taking measures to stabilize blood pressure:

• an hour and a half before the measurement, eliminate all types of intense physical and mental stress, as well as exclude the use of drugs to increase blood pressure, give up strong tea, black coffee;
• 30 minutes before the procedure – do not go out into the cold or heat, if possible be at a comfortable temperature in order to eliminate tension in the muscles and blood vessels;
• 10 minutes before the pressure measurement – take a place where it is convenient for you to measure the pressure. It is better to sit in an armchair or on a sofa with a high back to create a comfortable support for your arms, legs and back and relax as much as possible.

It is not recommended to measure pressure immediately after eating, during a conversation. If the indicators are in doubt, you can measure the pressure on the other arm to exclude the influence of random factors. It is better to do this not immediately, but after a few minutes.

For regular measurements, it is important to ensure that the cuff is at the same level each time and that its middle is at the level of the heart. The forearm of the hand with the cuff should have a horizontal support – a table, the armrest of a chair. If you need to re-measure the pressure, you should pause for at least a minute so that the blood circulation in the arm is restored. Solely on the basis of regular measurements, it can be concluded that the pressure indicators correspond to the norm for age.

Why blood pressure is often far from normal

A huge number of various factors influence the deviation of blood pressure readings from the norm. Among the most probable causes:

• cardiovascular pathologies;
• changes in blood parameters – with age, as well as with some pathologies, it becomes more viscous;
• decrease in the elasticity of the vascular walls – due to certain drugs, dietary habits or increased stress;
• a sharp decrease in the lumen of blood vessels – with hormonal failures, thyroid diseases;
• cervical osteochondrosis,
• kidney diseases, disorders of the urinary system;
• excessive exercise;
• stress, prolonged state of psycho-emotional stress;
• hereditary factor;
• weather dependence.

Lifestyle habits, habits and culinary habits are often the cause of a steady increase in blood pressure:

• eating too salty food;
• obesity;
• smoking, alcohol abuse;
• addiction to strong coffee and tea;
• lack of physical activity.

Everyone knows that it is stress and strong excitement that lead to a sharp increase in blood pressure. Some patients who have a negative experience with healthcare professionals develop a pathology called “white coat hypertension”. In such patients, high blood pressure is noted only within the walls of a medical institution. At home (in a calm and familiar environment), as a rule, their pressure is within the normal range corresponding to age.

High and low blood pressure during pregnancy

The process of bearing a child is often accompanied by a steady decrease or increase in blood pressure. In order to notice the problem in time and take the necessary measures to normalize the blood supply to the fetal body, pressure measurement is an indispensable element of each scheduled examination by a gynecologist. It is recommended that the expectant mother monitor this indicator at least every other day. In most cases, the first half of pregnancy is characterized by low blood pressure readings, and during the second half of the period, the pressure is slightly higher than normal.

Among the main causes of low blood pressure, specialists call:

• toxicosis in the first half of pregnancy;
• violation of water-salt balance;
• inevitable changes in the composition of hormones in the blood;
• vascular and heart diseases.

If the pressure readings fall below 90/60 mmHg. Art., the woman should inform the doctor. An increase in pressure above the norm can be assumed with increased dizziness, tinnitus, the appearance of black dots (“flies”) in the field of vision, nausea and spots on the face and neck.

Causes of high blood pressure in children

Today high blood pressure is often observed even in childhood. As a rule, after a more thorough examination, a child is diagnosed with:

• vegetovascular dystonia;
• presence of endocrine diseases;
• organic pathologies of the central nervous system.

And the main provoking factors, closely related to each other, are excessive body weight and lack of physical activity.

If the child’s blood pressure is usually below normal, he should also be seen by a doctor, as this may indicate an infection or endocrine pathologies.

Tips for the Prevention of Abnormal Blood Pressure

Persistent deviations in blood pressure values ​​from the norm, whether upward or downward, often indicate serious illness. Among the complications of arterial hypertension and hypertension:

• strokes and heart attacks;
• development of transient ischemic attacks;
• hypertensive crisis.

For the purposes of prevention, doctors strongly recommend:

• adhere to an optimal diet, avoid overeating, limit the consumption of fatty and salty foods, fast food;
• give up bad habits;
• normalize body weight;
• devote time to moderate physical activity;
• avoid stress.

Chronically low blood pressure is not as common as arterial hypertension. However, it causes significant discomfort and leads to very serious consequences:

• reduced visual acuity and hearing impairment;
• renal failure;
• ischemia and infarction.

To avoid hypotension, experts recommend:

• make the diet more varied, give up exhausting mono-diets;
• consume enough vitamins, minerals, protein foods;
• allocate more time for a good night’s rest;
• find time for fitness, yoga, walking or other form of beneficial physical activity.

So, any deviations of blood pressure values ​​from the norm corresponding to age are an alarming symptom and a reason to visit a family doctor or a cardiologist as soon as possible. Prescribing medicines on the advice of a friend, a pharmacist from the nearest pharmacy or information from the Internet is extremely dangerous and completely unacceptable. The same drug that is effective for one patient may be completely useless for another. But in order to understand whether the “jump” in pressure is not accidental, caused by stress or overwork, it is important to regularly, day after day, monitor this indicator. This is enough to respond in a timely manner to a dangerous tendency to increase or decrease in blood pressure relative to the norm according to age and start treatment.

Modern devices, which are presented in a huge assortment in the Ridni Medtekhnika online store, will help you monitor pressure surges. Here you can always buy a device that is suitable for the price and parameters in order to facilitate control over blood pressure, identify the slightest deviations from the norm in time and take the necessary actions to eliminate them.

In addition, among the assortment of our online store there is a large selection of vitamins and dietary supplements to maintain the cardiovascular system.

Take care of your health!

what to do • Symptoms, causes of low blood pressure — hot topic — tsn.ua

If medicine has already learned to deal with high blood pressure with medication, then lowering blood pressure below normal is easier to prevent or put up with. However, knowing about the problem increases the chances of solving it. We talked about the causes, diagnosis and treatment of hypotension with the general practitioner of the Dobrobut Medical Network Irina Slyunina.

What pressure can be called reduced?

Low blood pressure is considered to be less than 90/60 mmHg. Art. Chronically low blood pressure is called arterial hypotension, and a temporary decrease in pressure is a hypotonic state.

Signs of a decrease in pressure

Signs of chronic hypotension can be distinguished, which are most common in people: general weakness, dizziness, pale skin, increased fatigue, decreased performance, possible pain in the heart area. These are not specific symptoms, they can be signs of various diseases. In an acute condition, for example, with a heart attack, hemorrhage, bleeding, perforated ulcer, intoxication, diarrhea, when the pressure drops sharply, the listed symptoms are pronounced. In addition, with acute drops in pressure, tinnitus, loss of consciousness, and heart rhythm disturbance can be observed.

Causes of hypotension

Decreased blood pressure can be temporary. This can be with the so-called orthostatic hypotension, which happens, for example, when a person abruptly gets out of bed. At this moment, he is dizzy due to a sharp outflow of blood from the head to the lower extremities and a decrease in pressure. This is most often a short-term condition that passes after 2 minutes.

There are many diseases that are accompanied by low blood pressure:

vegetovascular, or neurocirculatory, dystonia, in which a person has low blood pressure almost constantly. As a rule, people with asthenic physique are prone to vegetative-vascular dystonia. But for such people, low blood pressure may be a constitutional norm. They are called hypotension;

diseases of the endocrine system can reduce blood pressure, in particular hypothyroidism and diseases of the adrenal glands;

chronic infections and intoxications, for example, against the background of tuberculosis, chronic tonsillitis, other chronic diseases, in which the general tone of the body suffers.

Blood pressure behaves differently in different situations, at different times and in different weather conditions. Let’s say that the maximum level of blood pressure reaches 19:00, the minimum – at night. With a decrease in atmospheric pressure, the pressure of hypotensive patients can decrease, and in hypertensive patients it can increase.

How to properly control the pressure?

You can suspect a decrease in pressure according to the signs listed above, but to clarify the cause of your condition, you should measure the pressure. To find out your tendency to decrease or, conversely, increase pressure, you should measure the pressure 2 times a day, in the morning and in the evening, for a week. It is also advisable to consult a general practitioner at least once a year.

Pressure can be measured with both mechanical and electronic blood pressure monitors. Measurements should be taken in a sitting position, but before that, you need to sit and rest for 5-10 minutes. In order to get the correct indicator, measurements should be taken 3 times with an interval of about 1 minute. It is important to understand that during the first measurement, the reaction of the vessels to the cuff of the device may show an overestimated or underestimated pressure, so you cannot be guided by the results of the first measurement. If the second measurement showed the same result as the first time, then the third measurement is no longer worth it. If all three indicators are different, the average value is taken. Blood pressure above 9 is considered normal.0/60 mmHg Art. and below 140/90 mm Hg. Art.

What to do if the pressure drops?

There is a joke: “Hypertensive patients live a short life, but well, and hypotensive patients live long, but badly.” If there are currently drugs for the treatment of hypertension, and by taking a pill, you can not think about your high blood pressure during the day, then for hypotensive patients (people with low blood pressure), unfortunately, there are no such drugs.

If you have never had low blood pressure before and suddenly you feel signs of hypotension, it is better to see a doctor and be sure to do a cardiogram, because heart disease can also cause a decrease in pressure, so it is important to exclude them. Also, the doctor must exclude viral diseases that are accompanied by a decrease in pressure, for example, myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) can be a consequence of a sore throat.

In an acute situation, when a decrease in pressure is accompanied by dizziness, fainting, it is necessary to call an ambulance.

If a decrease in pressure occurs against the background of overwork, lack of sleep, causes weakness, lethargy, decreased performance, then it is enough to drink strong tea or coffee (if there are no contraindications and the heartbeat is normal) and rest until the pressure stabilizes.

If you experience a problem every day, you should see a doctor to find out the cause. With chronic hypotension, as a rule, they fight with non-drug means: a healthy lifestyle, adherence to the regime of work and rest, regular physical activity 30-40 minutes a day in an intense rhythm, walking in the fresh air, giving up bad habits (smoking, alcohol, etc.