Understand Blood Pressure

Blood pressure (BP) refers to the force created by the heart when pumping blood throughout the body, aiding the supply of food and nutrients, carrying waste, and allowing white blood cell circulation in the body.
Blood Pressure is created when the heart makes its contractions to push blood, and an automated BP device measures the difference between the heart and the arteries.
The normal BP range is 120-140 systolic and 60-90 diastolic.
Systolic refers to the top reading, and diastolic refers to the bottom reading.

The difference Between Hypertension and Hypotension
If BP is high, it means the heart is working harder or straining to supply blood in the body, one suffers from hypertension.
However, if the BP is too low, it infers that the body is not being supplied with adequate nutrients, a condition called hypotension.
However, hypertension is more prevalent.

Signs of Hypertension
Headache accompanied with blurred vision
Anxiety
Seizures
Chest pain and shortness of breath
Nausea and vomiting

Dangers of Hypertension
Hypertension may sometimes present no symptoms; however, it can result in complications if it goes untreated.
Let’s look at some complications:

Stroke
High blood pressure can result in the thickening and damaging of the arteries, resulting in heart attack and stroke.

Heart Failure
The heart is forced to work harder in hypertension, resulting in the thickening of the heart chambers, causing the inability to pump blood, hence heart failure.

Dementia
Narrowed and blocked arteries cause failure to supply blood to the brain, resulting in a particular type of dementia called vascular dementia.

Vision Loss and Organ Failure
Thinning and rapture of arteries of vision may cause vision loss.

Kidney Failure
Similarly, weakened and narrowed blood vessels can cause the collapse of organs, such as kidneys.

How to keep Healthy Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure is a lifestyle condition that can be prevented and managed by changing daily choices such as:
Maintain a healthy weight
Increase intake of vegetables and fruits
Reduce Sodium Intake
Reduce Alcohol Intake

Importance of Monitoring Blood Pressure
It is vital for those taking hypertensive drugs to monitor their blood pressure because it often has no symptoms, and constantly checking is the foolproof method to monitor this chronic disease.
Research shows that people aged 50-80 have an increased chance of developing coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and hypertension.

People with chronic heart diseases need to monitor their BP frequently. People from the age of 35 can similarly benefit from frequent checking of BP.

Priscare Wellness, an Umala Mission project, runs Blood Pressure, Vital Signs, and Weight checks every Tuesday & Friday.

Visit Umala Mission for FREE wellness check-ups.

Written By: Shamim Atira