Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall. Fluctuating blood pressure is not always serious, and can happen to anyone. Sometimes, the blood flowing to the heart exerts varying pressures to the blood capillaries, resulting in rapid variation of blood pressure.
Causes
Fluctuating blood pressure is correspondent to the circadian rhythm. It depends on a number of physical factors, including a person's physical posture--whether the person is sitting down, standing, or lying down. Hypertension is the greatest cause of blood pressure variation. Hypertension causes the blood vessels to tighten quicker than normal with less stimulus needed, which limits the speed and amount of blood that flows throughout the body. Other factors that trigger a fluctuation in the blood pressure include food and drug sensitivities, stress, emotional imbalance and lifestyle.
Types
There are two types of pressure that are exerted on the walls of the blood vessels: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. When blood pressure is at its highest, it is called systolic pressure, while diastolic pressure is the minimum arterial pressure. During each heartbeat, blood pressure varies between systolic and diastolic pressure. According to PubMed Central, the normal range varies with age, but a young adult would be expected to have a systolic pressure of around 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of around 80 mm Hg.
Symptoms
There are no visible signs and symptoms of small fluctuations in blood pressure. Most people do not know whether they have a blood pressure problem until they go to the doctor for some other reason. People often experience dizziness, headache, shortness of breath, and blurred vision during pressure variation. Symptoms can begin to appear when diastolic pressure crosses its normal range of 80 mm Hg. It is advisable to keep a track of the blood pressure on a regular basis.
Complications
Your blood pressure may fluctuate due to health problems. It can fluctuate by as much as 30 or 40 mm Hg. The complications of fluctuating blood pressure can range from stroke, heart attack, and paralysis, to kidney failure and death. Early symptoms of high blood pressure are hardly traceable, but it can damage blood capillaries and even tear them, causing bleeding or other complications.
Treatments
It is important to take precautions to keep your blood pressure under control. The treatment focuses on reducing blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg. Excessive alcohol consumption will raise your blood pressure. A healthy lifestyle can prevent high blood pressure in children and young adults. If lifestyle changes do not control blood pressure, then it is necessary to keep your doctor up to date on your condition.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: Treatment of High Blood Pressure
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What are the Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Pressure?
- High Blood Pressure Remedies: Causes of Fluctuating Blood Pressure
- Blood Pressure: Fluctuating blood pressure
- PubMed Central: Introduction
