Your blood pressure is an important measurement of how well your cardiovascular system is functioning. A healthy body depends on the flexibility of its vascular system to allow blood to flow freely. When these veins and arteries become blocked or rigid, they can lead to interruptions in blood flow and sometimes debilitating consequences. Medications, lifestyle and endocrine problems can cause elevations and depressions in blood pressure.
Normal Blood Pressure
The term blood pressure refers to the force your blood exerts against the walls of your arteries. When measured, the number consists of a systolic number written over a diastolic number in fraction form. The systolic number is a measurement of your heart beats and the diastolic number is a measurement of the relaxation after each heartbeat. According to National Institute of Health, a reading of less than 120/80 mm/Hg is considered normal blood pressure.
Low Blood Pressure
Having a low blood pressure is considered ideal unless it comes with symptoms. The American Heart Association lists these symptoms as dizziness, lightheadedness, excessive thirst, fatigue, loss of concentration, clamminess, depression, blurry vision and coldness. You can experience a drop in blood pressure due to standing for long periods of time or due to extended bed rest. More serious cases of hypotension can be related to underlying factors such as heart disease, nutrient deficiencies, pregnancy, endocrine issues and allergic reactions.
High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be a serious condition with no or few symptoms. Prehypertension is defined by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as having a blood pressure between 120/80 and 139/89 mmHg. Hypertension is defined as having a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or greater. Stroke, heart attack and kidney failure are some of the potentially fatal complications that can arise from chronic high blood pressure. Since high blood pressure is often has no symptoms, the only way to measure it is to be tested by a doctor. Acute spikes in blood pressure are often accompanied by headaches, blurred vision and thirst, especially after a meal high in sodium. Sedentary people with diets high in salt but low in fruit and vegetables are at higher risk for high blood pressure.
References
- MedlinePlus: High Blood Pressure
- National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
- American Heart Association: Mediterranean diet, traditional risk factors, and the rate of cardiovascular complications after myocardial infarction: final report of the Lyon Diet Heart Study. de Lorgeril M, Salen P, Martin JL, Monjaud I, Delaye J, Mamelle N
