Author: collaborativehealthinformation

Before we do this there are a few terms we must understand.  The top number of your blood pressure is referred to as your SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE (contracting of the heart);  the bottom number is referred to as your DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE (resting of the heart); and HYPERTENSION  (high tension or pressure in the arteries) is the name given to high blood pressure.

Now that you know what your systolic and diastolic blood pressures are we may be able to figure out if they are normal or high.  Recently the definition of high blood pressure has changed.  The new definition of high blood pressure is 130/80 (the old was 140/90).  Normal blood pressure is now considered be a systolic less than 120 and a diastolic less than 80.  Elevated blood pressure is a systolic between 120-129 with a diastolic of less than 80.  Hypertension (high blood pressure ) is considered STAGE 1 when the reading is between 130-139 systolic or a diastolic between 80 and 89.  STAGE 2 is when systolic blood pressure is 140 or higher or a diastolic of 90 or higher.  A HYPERTENSIVE CRISIS is when the systolic is higher than 180 and/or the diastolic is higher than 120.

Dr. Patricia L. Pilgrim-Antoine, DNP, CRNA

Now that we have a functional explanation of blood pressure, we can now apply this concept.  Based on the Center for disease Control, blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries

Your blood pressure goes up and down throughout the day.  It becomes a problem when the blood pressure stays elevated over long periods of time.  This may lead to heart attacks and strokes.  Elevated blood pressure has no warning signs (things you or others can observe) or symptoms (things you can feel).  The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it measured.

Dr. Patricia Pilgrim-Antoine, DNP, CRNA

 

Continue reading What Do Those Numbers Mean?