When can blood pressure be said to be normal and abnormal?

Blood pressure is a measure that can determine how strong your heart is to pump blood around your body. Understanding blood pressure may not be easy. The reason is, there are various kinds of medical terms used to describe this.

Even so, don't worry, because the various reviews about blood pressure in this article will probably help you to understand it. Curious?

Everyone's blood pressure is different every day

Blood pressure is a condition that does not work with certainty, because it will change. This is because blood pressure will vary over time, depending on the activities you are doing. Exercise, posture changes (from sitting to standing), and even speaking can cause your blood pressure to change.

In addition, blood pressure generally varies according to time of morning, afternoon or night. According to LiveScience, a study states that blood pressure measured in the morning can see health problems better than if it is done at night.

Actually everyone's blood pressure will always fluctuate. The pattern will start high in the morning until noon then reach a peak in the afternoon and then fall back down at night.

The pattern of changes in blood pressure is closely related to the body's biological clock, aka the circadian rhythm. The body's biological clock regulates the work of every organ of the human body according to a certain schedule in a span of 24 hours or one day.

If this blood pressure difference occurs to you, try to remember whether you have any of the following risk factors.

• Smoking and coffee hobbies. Smoking and drinking coffee habits can make the risk of increased blood pressure in the morning even greater.
• Drugs. Some of the medicines you take can also affect the increase in blood pressure which then causes a difference in blood pressure. For example in asthma drugs, skin and allergy medications, and cold medicines.
• Work late at night. If you often stay up late or work on shift night, this can play a role in causing a difference in blood pressure so that in the morning blood pressure will increase.
• Excessive stress. Excess anxiety or stress can, over time, decrease the performance of your heart and blood vessel system, causing permanent blood pressure problems.

Understand how to measure blood pressure

If you want to keep your blood pressure under control, it is important that you understand when blood pressure is considered normal, and when it is considered abnormal.

When medical personnel measure your blood pressure, the blood pressure gauge will display two types of numbers, namely systolic and diastolic, which are separated by a slash like a division.

Systolic is the number that is on the "top" and the diastolic is the number that is on "bottom". Systolic shows the pressure when your heart pumps blood around the body. Meanwhile, the diastolic shows the pressure when your heart is in a resting state, which is when blood is filled to the heart (between beats or beats).

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If your blood pressure is 120/80, 120 is systolic and 80 is diastolic. The normal number for blood pressure is an upper number (systolic) lower than 120, and a lower number (diastolic) that is lower than 80. So, the normal number for blood pressure is below 120/80.

Meanwhile, blood pressure is considered high (hypertension) if the upper number (systolic) is higher than 140 or if the lower number (diastolic) is more than 90 in two measurements. Although this number cannot always be considered hypertension, you must always be vigilant because this number is already above normal.

If your blood pressure number is between 120/80 and 140/90, this means you have a prehypertensive condition where you don't need medication but need to be aware of your blood pressure. In this condition you must start making lifestyle changes to be healthier.

Recognizing hypertension or high blood pressure

Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. The pressure on the blood itself is the force of blood flow from the heart pushing it against the walls of the blood vessels (arteries). The strength of this blood pressure can change over time, influenced by what activity the heart is doing (for example, exercising or in a normal / resting state) and the resistance of the blood vessels.

High blood pressure is a condition in which blood pressure higher than 140/90 millimeter of mercury (mmHG). The number 140 mmHG refers to a systolic reading, when the heart pumps blood around the body. Meanwhile, the number 90 mmHG refers to a diastolic reading, when the heart is relaxed while refilling its chambers with blood.

Not only that, stress and feelings of anxiety can also contribute to a rise in your blood pressure. Blood pressure that is too low can cause dizziness. While blood pressure that is too high may not cause any symptoms, it can also trigger a stroke. High blood pressure that occurs continuously can also cause congestive heart failure, kidney failure, hardening of the arteries, and other complications.

It is confirmed that you have high blood pressure when your doctor detects it in a routine physical, because you may not have any symptoms. Feeling that there is nothing wrong with their bodies, most people are probably not very diligent medical check up see a doctor unless you feel sick. Well, this is one of the reasons why hypertension is referred to as " silent killer .”

How to prevent hypertension?

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• Maintain ideal body weight

In fact, people who are overweight, I don't know overweight or obesity has a 2 to 6 times greater chance of developing hypertension. Therefore, try to maintain an ideal body weight, because not only can prevent hypertension but in doing so you can reduce the risk of various other diseases.

• Exercise regularly

In fact, people who exercise regularly have a lower risk of hypertension than those who don't exercise at all.

To keep blood pressure normal, you should do exercise for 2 hours to 30 minutes per week. No need for sports that are too difficult, just take a leisurely walk, jogging , or cycling alone can prevent hypertension.

• Stop smoking

Hypertension is one of the bad side effects that can be caused by smoking. Smoking can also expose you to various chronic diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and heart attack. So, stop your smoking habit from now on.

• Avoid stress

Stress can make blood pressure rise momentarily. However, if you don't manage stress properly, your blood pressure will continue to be high and can lead to hypertension.

Stress is natural, but the most important thing is how you manage it well. Do things that relax you, like listening to music, meditating, or yoga.

• Take medication for people with hypertension

Hypertension drugs that are usually combined are a class of diuretics, beta blockers, engiotensin enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors), angiotensin-II antagonists, and calcium blockers.

Some examples are Lotensin HCT which is a combination of benazepril (ACE inhibitor) and Hydrocholorthiazide (diuretic), or Tenoretic combined from atenolol (beta blocker) with chlortalidone (diuretic).

Diuretics are often included in the combination of high blood pressure drugs because of the less risk of side effects and the benefits of being able to increase the blood pressure-lowering effects of the main drugs.

Diuretic drugs are also added to blood pressure medications to treat the problem of excess fluid in the body that is common in people with hypertension.

Various things that increase your risk of developing hypertension

High blood pressure is not an equal risk disease for everyone. Men have a higher risk of complications than women with the same blood pressure. African people and the elderly also have a higher risk than other ethnic groups, and also a higher risk than younger people even though the measurement of blood pressure is the same. This shows how important it is to control hypertension.

Blood pressure that is elevated for an unknown reason is called " essential hypertension " . ”Blood pressure can also increase due to other disease processes, such as an excess of certain hormones or kidney disease. This is called "secondary hypertension" because it occurs as a result of another disease.

Recognizing hypotension or low blood pressure

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Low blood pressure is a condition in which the blood pressure is produced when the heart pumps blood around the body below the normal pressure limit. As blood flows through the arteries, it puts pressure on the artery walls.

This pressure is what is assessed as a measure of the strength of blood flow or known as blood pressure. If the pressure on the blood in the arteries is lower than normal, it is called low blood pressure or hypotension. It also means signaling that the heart, brain and other parts of the body are not getting enough blood.

Some experts say that hypotension is usually diagnosed when blood pressure up to 90/60 or less, and followed by several symptoms, namely dizziness, dehydration, difficulty concentrating, nausea, cold and clammy skin, rapid breathing, fatigue, feeling very thirsty, blurred vision, to fainting (loss of consciousness). Changes in blood pressure to a sudden low is also dangerous because it can cause severe dizziness, due to the brain failing to receive adequate blood flow.

Low blood pressure is sometimes interpreted as a sign that there is not enough blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs, which can cause several symptoms such as:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fainting
• Blurred vision
• The heart beats faster than normal and the rhythm becomes irregular
• Feeling confused
• Nausea or feeling unwell
• Weak
• Feeling cold
• Pale skin (pale from illness)
• Feeling thirsty or dehydrated (dehydration can cause blood pressure to drop)
• Difficulty focusing or concentrating

How to treat and avoid hypotension at the same time

• Increase fluid intake

Fluids can increase blood volume and prevent dehydration, both of which are very important for the treatment of hypotension. Drink at least 8 glasses per day plus foods that contain lots of water such as vegetables and fruit. More fluids will increase the volume of blood, and the increase in the amount of blood will increase the pressure in the arteries.

• Increase sodium (salt) intake

Sodium is a mineral that is available in salt. Apart from salt, vegetables, fruit and sports drinks also contain sodium which can be a source of sodium intake for people with hypotension. Foods or drinks that contain sodium are actually available in various sources because most types of food do contain salt.

• Avoid alcoholic beverages

Alcohol can lead to dehydration or lack of fluids. The more fluids you lose from the body, the less pressure on your blood will be.

• Avoid standing too long

Not standing for too long can prevent blood pressure from getting lower which is influenced by nervous conditions. There are some people who experience low blood pressure with this type orthostatic hypotension .

In this condition, the person when standing for at least 3 minutes can experience a drop in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg and diastole 10 mmHg compared to the pressure on their blood when sitting or lying down. So, people who have low blood pressure with this condition should reduce their standing activities.

• Take medicine

There are several drugs that are specific to cases of low blood pressure. If drugs are needed, the principle of action of the drug is to increase the volume of blood or narrow the arteries so that the pressure in the blood will increase because there will be more blood flowing through a smaller space. The use of these drugs is of course based on a doctor's prescription.

Generally, doctors will prescribe hypotension drugs, namely vasopressin drugs. This is a medicine to narrow blood vessels to cause increased pressure on the blood. This drug is usually used in cases of critical hypotension.

In addition there are catecholamine drugs which are included in the drugs adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine. These drugs work to affect the sympathetic and central nervous systems. Catecholamines also function to make the heart beat faster and stronger and constrict blood vessels, resulting in increased blood pressure.

Which is the most dangerous, high or low blood pressure?

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Hypertension and hypotension cannot be compared in severity, they are both dangerous. Because, both are equally at risk of causing complications in the long run and of course have a bad effect on the organs of the body.

Complications in hypertension will cause damage to blood vessels that can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure and the possibility of other diseases. While hypotension can cause shock (loss of fluid or blood in a very large amount) which is certainly life threatening.

Of course healthy life is your choice, right? Rather than comparing; whichever is more dangerous, you should avoid both distractions. Reporting from Healthline, the following are guidelines for maintaining healthy blood pressure, such as:

• Maintain ideal body weight. To check whether your body weight is ideal, check this BMI calculator or bit.ly/indeksmassatubuh.
• Maintain a healthy and balanced diet.
• Get enough rest and exercise.
• Stop smoking and avoid alcohol consumption.
• Routinely check your blood pressure and consult your health with your doctor.

How to maintain normal blood pressure?

Healthy lifestyle changes are the first important step in keeping blood pressure normal and stable Health experts today recommend that we all should:

• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Maintain body weight in order to stay ideal
• Reducing sodium (salt) consumption
• Increase your potassium intake
• Limit alcohol consumption to no more than one or two drinks a day
• Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products while reducing total and saturated fat intake

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