BLOOD PRESSURE-Part 1

Disclaimer:This post is written for the simple reason of sharing the basic information about undersatanding - Blood Pressure .All the information has been documented , collected  from Public posts from various websites .

I realised a lot of people are affected by it , yet are oblivious about simple day to day activites and changes , which contribute heavily towards managing it with life style changes, however Doctors opinion and consultation is recommended.

What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is a measure of the force that your heart uses to pump blood throught the arteries around your body.

Why is blood pressure a useful indicator of cardiovascular health?
It's a tool doctors use to help identify if a person is at risk for heart disease or stroke. Keep in mind, it's not the only tool, and it doesn't necessarily indicate that a person will or won't have heart disease, but it does help doctors in the management of their patients' care.

Why is blood pressure an important measure of someone's overall health?
Maintaining a healthy blood pressure is very important because the higher your blood pressure is the higher your chances of having health issues are. All of your body's important organs, such as your brain and heart, receive nutrients and oxygen through your blood flow.


Blood pressure is a symptom /an indicator.
In an emergency everything in blood travels fast in the blood vessel -arteries and veins .The body feels stressed to provide nutrients, oxygen etc to major organs .The heart gets the signal to pump harder with great force which is a reaction to the perceived threat physical, emotional, psychological..even a war of thoughts creates this emergency.
Doctors can use blood pressure as an indicator of a person's heart health. People with high blood pressure — or hypertension — are at risk of developing heart problems and damage to the walls of the blood vessels.

How is blood pressure measured?
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as 2 figures
Systolic pressure – measures the pressure when your heart pushes blood out from heart into the arteries to provide fresh supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells -Higher number 120/90mmHg(120 is systolic)
Diastolic pressure – measures the pressure inside the artery when the heart rests between beats-Lower number 120/90mmHg(90 is diastolic)

• As a general guide:
• Ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg
• High blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher.
• Left untreated, high blood pressure can increase your risk of developing a number of serious long-term health conditions, such as coronary heart disease and kidney disease.

 

• Low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60mmHg or lower
• Some medicines can cause low blood pressure as a side effect. It can also be caused by a number of underlying conditions, including heart failure and dehydration.

What is pulse pressure?
Pulse pressure is the difference between your systolic blood pressure, which is the top number of your blood pressure reading, and diastolic blood pressure, which is the bottom number. Ideally it should be between 30-40.Example 120/80 120-80 =40
Measuring your pulse pressure may help your doctor predict if you're at risk for a heart event, including a heart attack or stroke. If your pulse pressure is greater than 60 it's considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, especially for older adults

Role of cholesterol in blood pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) and high cholesterol also are linked. When the arteries become hardened and narrowed with cholesterol plaque and calcium (atherosclerosis), the heart has to strain much harder to pump blood through them.
As a result, blood pressure becomes abnormally high.Due to thickness , narrow passage and low flexibility .Distribution of oxygen and other nutrients is greatly impaired and the heart strains to do the task -a huge risk of arterial hemorrhage exists.This causes brain haemmorhage and strokes.

Does holding your breath lower blood pressure?
Breath control can lower blood pressure, correct heart arrhythmia and improve digestive problems. Breath work also increases blood circulation throughout the body which can help decrease anxiety, improve sleep and increase energy levels.
Although temporary "spikes" aren't necessarily a problem, numbers that remain high over time can cause serious damage.