The actual order that the numbers involved in a blood pressure reading are given is systolic over diastolic. The systolic pressure is higher, because it is the reading taken while the heart actually pumps or beats and the diastolic pressure is lower because it is taken when the heart sucks in a fresh quantity of blood to pump around.
There are approximate figures that doctors quote as 'standard', but there is no clear, authoritative agreement what these numbers are. In the west, most books will say that any reading under 120/80 is all right. However, there are many medical professionals who will say that 140/80 does not need treatment, other than to lose a few pounds, if you are over weight.
This makes it very difficult for the unqualified person to ascertain for him or herself, whether his or her blood pressure is satisfactory or not. Blood pressure monitors are very reassuring, very accurate yet not expensive these days, but how can you interpret the data they give you, if not every medical professional has the same opinion?
Maybe the only way to get the most sense of this data is to go along to your general practitioner with your blood pressure monitor and discuss its findings with your doctor. Your doctor can use his or her sophisticated equipment and verify it with yours and your doctor can give you a few figures that can be expected for someone like you.
I say this because there are several items that can have an effect on blood pressure. In fact, actual blood pressure changes with each beat of the heart, so your blood pressure can be different each time you take it, which is why a BP monitor takes the average (or the maximum) over, say, a two minute period.
Factors that can (and often do) have an effect on blood pressure are:
The 'White Coat Effect': some individuals' BP soars by as much as 25-50 points if they go into a doctor's surgery. This could be anxiety or it could be fear of doctors, and it is a documented difficulty.
Mood: fear, anger, depression and anxiety can unsettle your blood pressure.
Age: your age has some sway on your BP.
Weather: the temperature and the humidity affects BP
Stress: stress, restlessness, lack of sleep and tiredness can affect the levels of your blood pressure.
Diet: which foodstuffs and beverages you have recently consumed have an impact as do whether you are constipated or merely 'full'.
Smoking: smoking and drinking alcohol affect blood pressure.
Exercise: your physical condition, your metabolism and the amount of exercise you take are also reasons.
Time of the Day: for all the above reasons and more, the time of the day that you take the reading has an impact, which is why it is a good idea to have your own blood pressure monitor at home. Then you can measure your BP at certain times of the day and compare the results with the expected levels of diastolic and systolic blood pressure given you by your GP.
There are approximate figures that doctors quote as 'standard', but there is no clear, authoritative agreement what these numbers are. In the west, most books will say that any reading under 120/80 is all right. However, there are many medical professionals who will say that 140/80 does not need treatment, other than to lose a few pounds, if you are over weight.
This makes it very difficult for the unqualified person to ascertain for him or herself, whether his or her blood pressure is satisfactory or not. Blood pressure monitors are very reassuring, very accurate yet not expensive these days, but how can you interpret the data they give you, if not every medical professional has the same opinion?
Maybe the only way to get the most sense of this data is to go along to your general practitioner with your blood pressure monitor and discuss its findings with your doctor. Your doctor can use his or her sophisticated equipment and verify it with yours and your doctor can give you a few figures that can be expected for someone like you.
I say this because there are several items that can have an effect on blood pressure. In fact, actual blood pressure changes with each beat of the heart, so your blood pressure can be different each time you take it, which is why a BP monitor takes the average (or the maximum) over, say, a two minute period.
Factors that can (and often do) have an effect on blood pressure are:
The 'White Coat Effect': some individuals' BP soars by as much as 25-50 points if they go into a doctor's surgery. This could be anxiety or it could be fear of doctors, and it is a documented difficulty.
Mood: fear, anger, depression and anxiety can unsettle your blood pressure.
Age: your age has some sway on your BP.
Weather: the temperature and the humidity affects BP
Stress: stress, restlessness, lack of sleep and tiredness can affect the levels of your blood pressure.
Diet: which foodstuffs and beverages you have recently consumed have an impact as do whether you are constipated or merely 'full'.
Smoking: smoking and drinking alcohol affect blood pressure.
Exercise: your physical condition, your metabolism and the amount of exercise you take are also reasons.
Time of the Day: for all the above reasons and more, the time of the day that you take the reading has an impact, which is why it is a good idea to have your own blood pressure monitor at home. Then you can measure your BP at certain times of the day and compare the results with the expected levels of diastolic and systolic blood pressure given you by your GP.
About the Author:
Owen Jones, the author of this article writes on several of topics, but is currently involved with work on high blood pressure charts. If you want to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at High Blood Pressure Recipes.
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