High Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure (BP) and how is it measured?

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries as the heart pumps it around the body. It is usually measured by wrapping an inflatable pressure bag around the upper arm, which is connected to a digital measuring device. BP is recorded as two numbers, for example 120 over 80 (120/80). The higher number indicates the pressure in the arteries as the heart squeezes blood out every beat. The lower number indicates the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat. BP is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and should be measured sitting down and relaxed.

What is high blood pressure? (also called hypertension)

There is no firm rule defining high BP, however the risk of heart, stroke and blood vessel disease increases as your BP increases and for most people the lower the BP the better.

• Normal BP generally less than 120/80   
• Normal to high BP between 120/80 and 140/90
• High BP 140/90 or higher

Why does Blood Pressure matter?

If your blood pressure remains high it can lead to serious health problems such as heart attack, heart disease, stroke or kidney disease.

Note: High BP doesn’t usually have obvious symptoms so you can have high BP and feel perfectly normal. The only way to diagnose this is to have regular checks by your Doctor or by purchasing our own unit and checking yourself.

Factors that cause high blood pressure?

• Smoking
• High Cholesterol
• Being overweight
• Having Diabetes

As you can see it is the usual suspects regarding the cause, being lifestyle. On top of this being under stress can obviously raise your BP.

Treatment?

The best way to reduce BP is to live an active healthy lifestyle. Be smoke free, maintain a healthy body weight, reduce salt and alcohol intake, undertake regular exercise and eat healthily.
If you have been diagnosed with high BP your Doctor may recommend a 24-hour self-test that you can do at home and this may isolate certain events that cause your high BP. If your changes in lifestyle are unsuccessful you may also have to go on medication.

In summary you need to check your BP regularly and if it is high then you should look to change your lifestyle or else you may get a nasty surprise with no warning, being a heart attack and you don’t have to be over 50 to get one of them.

Please note this is a guide only, sourced from the heart foundation and you can get more information from them at   www.heartfoundation.org.au or contact their Health Information Service on 1300 362787.