Contents:
- Medical Video: Understanding Blood Pressure (Subtitles)
- How do you read blood pressure results?
- What does the systolic number mean for blood pressure results?
- What do diastolic numbers mean for blood pressure results?
- How much blood pressure is considered unhealthy?
- How can only one number be abnormal?
- How often do I have to check blood pressure?
Medical Video: Understanding Blood Pressure (Subtitles)
When you are measured for blood pressure by a medical officer, you may only be told that your blood pressure is current and is normal, high, or low. Yes, only that, but do you really know what the results of the pressure mean? Or how much blood pressure is normal?
How do you read blood pressure results?
Everyone must want to have normal blood pressure to avoid various chronic diseases, especially heart disease. Therefore, today many people intentionally buy automatic blood pressure devices to be able to measure blood pressure anytime and anywhere - without having to check with a health worker. Then, when looking at the blood pressure results, what do you know about the number?
If you see that there is an automatic blood pressure device, there are two big numbers listed there, the first and second lines. The first line is called the systolic number while the second line is the diastolic number. Both numbers are not just numbers, but describe the condition of your blood flow and your heart's function at that time.
What does the systolic number mean for blood pressure results?
When the heart is beating, there are two things that it does at that time, which is to contract and then push the blood to flow throughout the body and relax which is accompanied by the return of blood flow to the heart - from the whole body. Activities encourage blood and contract to produce a pressure called systolic pressure.
Normally, the systolic number is between 90-119 mmHg, if the number is more or less than the limit, then you experience health problems
What do diastolic numbers mean for blood pressure results?
While the numbers indicate the pressure on the heart when resting. This is the time when the heart receives blood from the lungs that contain oxygen. This blood is blood that will flow throughout the body when systolic pressure occurs. It is said to be normal if the diastolic pressure is between 60-79 mmHg.
How much blood pressure is considered unhealthy?
The results of blood pressure are said to be not good and are considered to have a high risk of experiencing health complications if the blood pressure results are more than 140/90 mmHg. If this condition occurs to you, immediately consult a doctor, because you are at high risk for coronary heart disease, stroke, and even heart failure.
Whereas someone who has entered pre-hypertension if he has a blood pressure between 120-139 for systolic pressure and 80-96 diastolic pressure. Even though you aren't sure you have hypertension, if you don't control it then you will experience it later.
How can only one number be abnormal?
Hypertension is indeed diagnosed if you have a blood pressure greater than 140/90 mmHg. Then what if only one number of blood pressure is not normal?
Experts say if your systolic pressure number is abnormal then it indicates that you may experience some disorders such as stiff arteries, heart valve problems, hyperthyroidism, or diabetes mellitus. While the risks that occur if you have abnormal diastolic pressure, which can be attacked by coronary heart disease.
How often do I have to check blood pressure?
The frequency of blood pressure checks will vary by person, depending on your health condition and the latest blood pressure results.
- If your blood pressure is normal, which is less than 120/80 mmHg, it doesn't matter if you check it every 2 years, or according to your doctor's advice.
- If you have pre-hypertension, where the systolic blood pressure is between 120-139 mmHg and the diastolic is 80-96 mmHg, then at least you do a blood pressure check once a year.
- If you have entered the stage of hypertension, the blood pressure is more than 140/90 mmHg, you should consult this with your doctor.
