Heart Facts | Ideal blood pressure

Ideal blood pressure

Posted on January 7, 2009
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Blood pressure measurement

Blood pressure measurement

Blood pressure is necessary for the blood to be pumped around the body by the human heart.  Your blood pressure is made up of two components, systolic and diastolic. Systolic blood pressure refers to when your heart beats pumping the blood whereas diastolic refers to when your heart is at rest and not beating. The systolic value is higher than the diastolic value.  When you get your blood pressure measured using a sphygmomanometer you must be sitting down with your brachial artery level with your heart as measurements taken at head height will be lower than those whilst sitting down and similarly those taken at ground level will be much higher.  A blood pressure reading will be given with the two values, for example 120/80.

Blood pressure may be essential but what is the ideal blood pressure, that is the normal blood pressure for the heart to function. If blood pressure is too low (hypotension) then you may feel dizzy as there is too little blood getting pumped  around the body and due to lack of oxygen and nutrients vital body organs will suffer and cells and tissues may die causing organ damage and failure.  If blood pressure is too high (hypertension) then you are at a greater risk of heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, atherosclerosis and a number of other complications. 

Medical guidelines have set the ideal blood pressure for both males and females at 120/80 or lower. Prehypertension is defined as a blood pressure of 120-139/80-89, and hypertension is 140/90 or higher.  Unfortunately some cases of high blood pressure have no symptoms are are found accidentally while having a check up at your doctors surgery.  If you suspect you dont have a healthy blood pressure I would recommend a trip to your clinician.

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