Keep Your Blood Pressure In Check
High blood pressure is often called a silent killer. Most people have no symptoms, so regular checkups are required.
Maintaining a normal blood pressure level is vitally important. This is because normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. How will you know if your blood pressure is over the limit? The best way is to use a home blood pressure monitor.
Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg
When blood pressure is below 120/80 mm Hg, you are considered to be healthy. High blood pressure, on the other hand, is considered high and requires medical attention. If blood pressure is consistently more than 120/80 mm Hg, you have hypertension.
Your doctor will probably prescribe a single drug, or lifestyle changes, to control your blood pressure. If your readings are consistently higher than this, you may be at risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. To keep your blood pressure within a normal range, make sure to exercise regularly and eat a well-balanced diet.
During the diastolic stage, your heart gets oxygen and is resting. However, when blood pressure rises to more than 120/80 mm Hg, you may be experiencing a hypertensive
crisis and should call 911. If your blood pressure is higher than 120/80 mm Hg, however, your doctor will likely want to see you immediately for further testing.
The American Heart Association recommends that adults with a 10% risk of developing cardiovascular disease have their blood pressure below 130/80 mm Hg. This is because higher levels of blood pressure are associated with an increased risk of heart
disease, stroke, and kidney failure. Luckily, there are ways to lower blood pressure and prevent it from rising to dangerous levels. Just follow a healthy lifestyle and you'll be a healthier, happier person.
Systolic pressure is also important. As with diastolic pressure, it increases as you age, and with the increasing buildup of plaque in your large arteries. A systolic pressure greater than 20 mm Hg doubles your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or a heart attack. A doctor should also note an elevated systolic reading.
Using a blood pressure chart, you can easily determine what level is considered healthy. To determine your total blood pressure, measure the systolic pressure - the force of the heart on the arteries during a beat - and the diastolic pressure - the pressure on your arteries between each heartbeat. If your total pressure is above 140/90 mm Hg, you are considered high-risk. You should seek medical attention
immediately if you are at risk for high blood pressure.
Lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure
Hypertension is a common disease that affects more than one-third of adult Americans. Unfortunately, only about half of these patients have their blood pressure under control. Without proper treatment, high blood pressure can lead to serious health complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and aneurysm
formation. Lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure are an effective way to lower your pressure naturally. Listed below are some tips for healthy blood pressure.
Changing your diet and lifestyle to reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure is an important part of lowering your blood pressure. While men are more prone to
developing high blood pressure, women are more likely to develop it after they reach the age of 55. Certain habits, such as eating too much sodium, alcohol consumption, and smoking, also increase your risk of developing high blood pressure. For example, eating too much salt, too little potassium, and avoiding caffeine, can all lead to high blood pressure.
A good way to lower blood pressure naturally is to lose weight. Excess weight around the midsection has been associated with higher blood pressure, and a 35-inch waist is considered high. You should also aim to exercise regularly to lose weight and improve your health. Aerobic exercise is an effective way to lower your blood pressure and burn calories. Aerobic exercise helps your heart pump faster, and even doing household chores counts as an aerobic activity.
Eating a variety of healthy food is another important way to lower your blood pressure.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend eating five servings of fruit and vegetables a day, and aiming for a 20-35 percent fat intake is ideal. Make sure you choose unsaturated fats over saturated ones. You should also reduce the amount of salt in your diet, which has been associated with high blood pressure. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, and cut down on your salt intake.
One of the easiest lifestyle changes to lower blood pressure is to stop drinking
alcohol. Limiting alcohol intake can lower your blood pressure by 4 mm Hg. One drink is equal to five ounces of beer or wine, and two drinks are one glass of hard liquor.
Avoiding alcohol consumption can also improve your overall health. Additionally, reducing your alcohol intake will decrease your risk of heart disease. If you're worried about the consequences of alcohol consumption, try a low-calorie diet instead.
If these life changes don't help or you have trouble following, we have a solution for you.
Personal Benefits of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring
The measurement of your health is something that most of us know to be paramount to living a healthy lifestyle. And while we might not always think about it, there are several ways that we can gain more insight into our health on a day-to-day basis. One of those ways is through home blood pressure monitoring devices.
What are at-home blood pressure monitors?
Blood pressure monitors are devices that measure your blood pressure and heart rate over several minutes to provide you with an accurate assessment. You use them at home and they provide you with the info you need to talk to your doctor or pharmacist about any potential changes in medication or dietary habits.
Our Picks For Blood Pressure Monitors
To measure your blood pressure, you need to use a device that can take the reading. These devices are called sphygmomanometers. There are two types of sphygmomanometers: manual and automatic.
A manual device is a cuff and inflatable bulb that can be inflated by squeezing the bulb with your hand. Automatic devices are more common because they're easier to use and provide a more accurate reading. They have an inflatable cuff that inflates automatically when you put it on your arm and then releases it when the measurement is complete. Cuffs could be put on the arms ( arm blood pressure monitor ) or wrist ( wrist blood pressure monitor ).
Manual Blood Pressure Monitor
Pedia Pals (Child & Infant) Size Benjamin Bear Blood Pressure Kit with Carrying Case (Infant)
Ordinary blood pressure monitors are usually too big for an infant's small arm. This one is designed especially for children with arm sizes of 6 inches.
Automatic Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron RS2 Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor with Intellisense Technology with Storage Case
Automatic Arm Blood Pressure Monitor
Omron M3 HEM-7155-E Blood Pressure Monitor with Easy Cuff 22-42cm
Tech-Savvy Tips for Using a Home Blood Pressure Monitor
The home blood pressure monitor is an important tool to have in the home. It can help you to track your blood pressure and see if it is getting too high or too low.
Here are some tips for using a home blood pressure monitor:
- Read the manual carefully before using the device for the first time
- Make sure that you are in a comfortable position and not lying down
- Measure your arm circumference, then input this information into the machine
- Keep your arm relaxed and still while taking measurements
- Take three consecutive readings and make sure they are within 10 mm Hg of each other.
Final Thought From Think Well & Fit
The first step in managing hypertension is to have it under control. This can be achieved by following a healthy lifestyle and maintaining a healthy weight. There are many ways to lower blood pressure, such as:
- Following a healthy diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Exercising regularly
- Limiting alcohol intake.
High blood pressure has no symptoms, so you may not know you have it until you have a health issue. So it is of vital importance to check it from time to time using a home blood pressure monitor.
But if your blood pressure is higher than normal, consulting a doctor is mandatory.