Blood Pressure
As blood is pumped around your body and passes through the blood vessels, it will exert pressure on them. If the pressure is too high this could place extra strain on arteries and the heart possibly leading to heart attacks or strokes. It is important to monitor your blood pressure as identifying blood pressure anomolies can help preventing health problems later in life.
What is my blood pressure?
Blood pressure can be measured using an electronic or manual meter to give an accurate reading.
Your blood pressure is made up of two numbers. Normal blood pressure levels are around 120 over 80 (120/80). The top level reading is the systolic. This is the highest pressure your blood reaches when the heart pumps. The diastolic is the lower reading which is the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.
High blood pressure can be caused by many reasons, including but not limited to:
- Excessive body weight
- Stress
- Dietary factors (such as high caffeine)
- Genetic factors
- Smoking
It is important to note that high blood pressure is not a concern as a one off reading, but when recorded over a period of time and categorised as hypertension, medical advice should be sought.
High blood pressure can be reduced in many ways including:
- Increasing exercise and losing weight
- Changing your diet to include more fibre, less fat and less salt
- Changes in lifestyle
- In some instances medication where advised by your GP