Measuring blood pressure (BP) requires rigor or you risk missing high blood pressure. Knowing the standards allows you to spot values that are too high or too low. What does high blood pressure mean? How to lower it?
Definition: what is blood pressure?
There arterial pressure (PA) measures the pressure forces exerted by the walls of the arteries to expel blood. When measuring blood pressure by a cuff, two numbers are usually givenmeasured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg):
► The Systolic BP (the first measurement on the blood pressure monitor) which corresponds to the highest number and which reflects cardiac systole, that is to say the moment of ejection by the heart;
► The Diastolic BP (the second measurement on the blood pressure monitor) which corresponds to the lowest number and which reflects cardiac diastole, that is to say the relaxation of the heart.
“In practice, BP is measured by a cuff, an electric pressure gauge, instead above the bend of the elbow or at the level of the wrist. It is inflated to a pressure level above systolic pressure (which causes the pulse in the arm to disappear) and then slowly deflated” indicates Professor Alain Furber. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) then corresponds to the appearance of the noises. The disappearance of the noises corresponds to the diastolic blood pressure (DBP).”The objective is to study the pulsacity of the artery in the arm” notes the cardiologist. It is possible to monitor your BP yourself, using a self-measuring device.
When to measure your blood pressure?
“It is advisable to respect the rule of 3 measures to know how to take 3 blood pressure measurements in the morning, 3 BP measurements in the evening for 3 days in a row“ recommends Professor Furber.
What are the normal values for blood pressure?
In adults, experts suggest a definition of normal BP: between 120 and 129 mmHg for systolic And between 80 and 84 mmHg for diastolic. “We always take into account the “white coat” effect which corresponds to the rise in blood pressure caused by the stress of a medical consultation at the sight of a white coat.” underlines the cardiologist.
What does too high blood pressure mean?
When BP measured at rest and repeatedly, is greater than 140 mmHg for systolic pressure and 90 mmHg for diastolic pressurewe are talking high blood pressure. “This means that the pressure inside the arteries is too high, which increases the risks of cardiovascular accidents in particular causing deposits of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries” explains Professor Furber. It gives no symptoms for years and can be aggravated by certain risk factors: aging, being overweight, a sedentary lifestyle, high salt consumption, tobacco or even alcohol.
In case of high blood pressure, the objective is to lower BP. “We recommend initially to improve your lifestyle by limiting your consumption of salt, alcohol, tobaccolosing weight if necessary and practicing regular physical activity. It is also essential to reduce stress“advises the cardiologist.”If this is not enough, we prescribe a treatment based on antihypertensive” adds the expert. We also take care of associated pathologies (renal, endocrine, diabetes, etc.).
What does too low blood pressure mean?
Low blood pressurei.e. the drop in BP is defined by a systolic blood pressure less than 90 mmHg or a drop in SBP of at least 40 mmHg compared to the person’s usual values. “In this case, we look to see if the patient is taking treatment based on hypertensives, the doses of which we will adjust if this is the case. We also check venous insufficiency” underlines the cardiologist. Low blood pressure can also be a sign of heart disorder or a symptom of dehydration. “If blood pressure is too low, it is important to to drink a lot of water. We can also offer support stockings” adds the specialist.
Thanks to Professor Alain Furber, cardiologist.