Types of Blood Pressure
• Normal blood pressure: Blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg.
• Elevated blood pressure: Elevated blood pressure is when your blood pressure exceeds the optimal level. It indicates that your heart is exerting more effort when circulating blood throughout your body.
• Stage 1 hypertension: The systolic blood pressure is 130 to 139 mm Hg and the diastolic blood pressure is 80 to 89 mm Hg. Systolic means the pressure when the heart pumps blood and diastolic means the pressure when the heart relaxes.
• Stage 2 hypertension: Systolic pressure is 140 mm Hg or higher or diastolic pressure is 90 mm Hg or higher.
Blood pressure higher than 180/120 mm Hg is considered a hypertensive emergency or crisis and requires immediate.
Causes of blood pressure:
1. Being overweight.
2. Eating too much salt and not enough fruits and vegetables
3. Not doing enough exercise
4. Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine
5. Smoking
6. Having a lot of stress
7. Being over 65
8. Having a relative with high blood pressure
9. Living in a deprived area.
Affection of Blood pressure:
1. Kidney disease
2. Diabetes
3. Sleep apnoea
4. Hormone problems
5. Lupus
6. Scleroderma
7. The contraceptive pill
8. Steroids
9. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
10. Some cough and cold remedies
11. Some herbal remedies
Symptoms of High Blood Pressure
Most people with high blood pressure have no symptoms, even if their blood pressure reaches dangerously high levels. However, some people may experience:
• Headaches
• Shortness of breath
• Nosebleeds
These symptoms are vague and often only appear when high blood pressure is very serious or dangerous.
Treatment of High Blood Pressure
The goal of treatment for high blood pressure is to lower the risk of complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and vision loss. Treatment options may include:
• Lifestyle changes: These include quitting smoking, limiting alcohol intake, reducing salt intake, eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight.
• Medications: These include diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, and others. Some people have blood pressure that can only be controlled by taking more than one medication
• Monitoring: This involves checking blood pressure regularly at home or at a health care provider’s office and keeping track of the readings.
The target blood pressure for most adults is less than 130/80 mm Hg. However, this may vary depending on the individual’s age, health conditions, and risk factors.
Prevention of High Blood Pressure
The best way to prevent high blood pressure is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits from an early age. These include:
• Getting regular physical activity
• Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and low-fat dairy products
• Limiting sodium, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and added sugars
• Staying away from cigarettes and other people’s smoke
• Drinking moderately, with a maximum of one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men
• Managing stress effectively
• Getting enough sleep
• Having regular check-ups and screenings for blood pressure and other health conditions
Range of Blood Pressure in Men and Women
Blood pressure can vary depending on many factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, genetics, lifestyle, medications, and medical conditions. However, some general trends can still be observed, though.
• Blood pressure tends to increase with age as the arteries become stiffer and narrower.
• Men tend to have higher blood pressure than women before age 55. After age 55, women tend to have higher blood pressure than men.
• African Americans tend to have higher blood pressure than other racial groups in the United States.
• High blood pressure is more likely to affect people who have relatives with the same condition.
The following table shows the average blood pressure ranges for adults by age and gender:
Age Men Women
18–24 120/79 110/71
25–29 121/80 112/73
30–34 123/82 114/75
35–39 125/83 116/77
40–44 128/85 120/81
45–49 131/87 127/84
50–54 134/88 129/85
55–59 137/89 135/88
60+ 144/90 159/91
How to Control Blood Pressure
Controlling blood pressure is important for preventing and managing the complications of high blood pressure. Some tips to control blood pressure are:
• Follow the treatment plan prescribed by your health care provider, including taking medications as directed and monitoring your blood pressure regularly.
• Make healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating well, exercising, quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and managing stress.
• Seek medical help if you experience any symptoms of high blood pressure or hypertensive emergency, such as severe headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, or blurred vision.
• Talk to your health care provider about any questions or concerns you may have about your blood pressure or your treatment options.
Blood pressure is a vital sign that reflects the health of your heart and blood vessels. By understanding the types, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of high blood pressure, you can take steps to protect your health and well-being.
