As we get older, our health concerns go from just making sure we drink enough water and get enough sleep to keeping on top of our heart rate, cholesterol and blood pressure. But what exactly is blood pressure? And what is normal blood pressure?
It’s a medical term you’ve most likely heard every time you’ve stepped foot into your doctor’s office. Blood pressure essentially just refers to the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps it around your body.
Knowing your blood pressure is important because it gives you and your doctor a snapshot of your health. A reading that is too low or too high could be a warning sign that something isn’t quite right.
What is normal blood pressure?
Blood pressure is measured by using two numbers: the systolic pressure (the top number), and the diastolic pressure (the bottom number). The systolic number is the force when your heart beats and the diastolic number measures the pressure when your heart rests between beats. A healthy balance between these two is essential because it indicates how well your cardiovascular system is functioning.
Generally speaking, for most adults, a normal reading is generally considered to be around 120/80 mmHg. However, this ‘normal’ figure also depends on age, gender and lifestyle factors. For example, if you happen to have coronary artery disease, you wouldn’t want your diastolic pressure to be less than 50 to 55 mmHg – even though the ‘normal’ range is 80.
What is hypertension?
When your a reading starts to tip over 120/80 mmHg, this is considered to be high blood pressure. High blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension, is a pervasive health issue. In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that 34 per cent of Australians have hypertension.
Hypertension occurs when the force of blood against your artery walls is consistently too high. This essentially means that your heart needs to work harder than it should. Over time, hypertension can damage your arteries and cause a range of health issues.
People typically develop hypertension for a number of reasons, poor lifestyle choices are one of the biggest contributors. Things like high-sodium diets, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, stress, smoking, and being overweight are all factors that can cause hypertension.
However, sometimes hypertension can also be hereditary or a side effect of underlying medical conditions such as kidney disease, too. No matter the cause, hypertension can lead to heart attacks, stroke, dementia, heart failure and a host of other serious health consequences, so it’s important to stay manage it.
What is hypotension?
On the other end of the spectrum is low blood pressure. Also known as hypotension, low blood pressure is less talked about than hypertension because it’s often situational rather than chronic. This essentially means that hypotension can happen to anyone, and can easily be rectified, unlike hypertension.
Hypotension is when your systolic and diastolic figures drops below 120/80 mmHg. It’s often the result of dehydration, standing up too quickly or even skipping meals. Sometimes, certain medications such as heart medications can also cause the pressure to drop.
