Blood Pressure Reading

Your heart pumps blood throughout your body using a network of tubing called arteries and capillaries which return the blood back to your heart via your veins. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart beats. 

When your heart contracts it pushes blood into your arteries. This causes an increase in pressure. When measured, this highest level of pressure is referred to as your systolic pressure. As your heart relaxes and refills with blood, the pressure in your arteries is reduced. This lowest level of pressure is referred to as you diastolic pressure. 

Because both of these measurements are important, you blood pressure reading is always based on these two numbers. The systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). These numbers are actually pressure units of millimetres of mercury (mmHg). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you'll most commonly say it's "120 over 80".

Blood pressure can vary over a wide range. For instance, the top pressure when the heart contracts (systolic) can vary from 90 to 240 mmHg and the bottom pressure when the heart relaxes (diastolic) can vary from 40 to 160 mmHg.

As you can see, these ranges can be quite expansive, and they often depend on what you're doing throughout your day. For instance, your lowest blood pressure measurements occur when you're asleep or when all your muscles are relaxed and at ease. Standing up, exercising, anxiety, and nervousness can all cause an increase in your blood pressure. In a single day your blood pressure may vary by 30 to 40 mmHg systolic with similar proportionate changes in diastolic pressure. This is why it's important to have your blood pressure measured under the same conditions every time.

For most of your waking hours, your blood pressure will remain fairly consistent when you're sitting or standing still. Ideally, during these periods when you're relaxed, your blood pressure should be right around 120/80 or lower.

When the level remains high (an example of high would be in 140/90 or higher range), you have a condition called high blood pressure or hypertension. With high blood pressure, the heart has to work harder to pump the blood through your arteries. In turn, your arteries take a beating from the force of blood. This combination can dramatically increase your risk of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems.

When the heart is forced to work hard for an extended period of time, it tends to enlarge. A slightly enlarged heart can function well, but a significantly enlarged heart cannot. 

The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk of heart disease and stroke. Someone with a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg is at greater risk than someone with a blood pressure reading of 110/70 mmHg. It's as simple as that. 

The good news is that hypertension can be treated. Mild cases of hypertension can be treated through behavior modifications such as diet changes, increased exercise, weight loss, etc. More severe cases of hypertension can require diuretics and beta blockers. Diuretics rid the body of excess fluids and salt. Beta blockers reduce the heart rate and the heart's output of blood. These can help reduce your risk of developing heart and kidney problems that might otherwise occur if your blood pressure is left untreated.

You've got a good general overview of how blood pressure works within your body and how important it can be to keep it under control. Take a tour of the other articles on Blood Pressure Insights and you'll learn about high blood pressure, low blood pressure, symptoms, treatments, medications, and more.

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