Maintaining an ideal blood pressure is an important factor for staying healthy. As you get older, your risk for cardiovascular problems and other diseases rise. You may lower your risk if your blood pressure is within normal limits. See you primary care provider for a blood pressure screening so that you can learn how to maintain a good blood pressure or lower a high one.
Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the measurement of pressure within your arteries as your heart pumps blood throughout your body. The amount of pressure is determined by the size and flexibility of your arteries and the force and amount of blood pumped through them. Your blood pressure is recorded in two numbers that is written in the form of a fraction. The top number is the systolic number, which is the measurement of pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic number, which is the measurement of minimum pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest, according to MedlinePlus.
Blood Pressure Limits
If you are 50-plus years old, your blood pressure should be lower than 140/90, reports the Department of Health and Human Services, and anything over that reading is considered high blood pressure.
A blood pressure of 120/80 to 139/89 is considered pre-hypertension. For this condition, it is recommended that you lose weight if you are over weight, eat more vegetables and fruits, get more exercise and reduce your alcohol intake.
A blood pressure of 140/90 to 159/99 is considered stage one hypertension. For this condition, it is recommended that your primary care provider prescribe a blood pressure medication in addition to you changing health habits.
A systolic pressure of 160/100 or more is considered stage two hypertension. For this condition, it is recommended that your primary care provider prescribe two blood pressure medications for you in addition to you changing health habits.
Non Modifiable Risk Factors
As you get older, the risk of high blood pressure rises. High blood pressure is more common among men through the early middle age years than women. Persons of African-American decent are more common to develop high blood pressure earlier than Whites. If you have a family history of high blood pressure, you have a greater risk of developing it.
Modifiable Risk Factors
Being overweight may increase your blood pressure. Physical inactivity causes your heart to work harder by creating more pressure on your arteries, which results in high blood pressure. Tobacco increases blood pressure and may cause damage to your arteries. Excessive alcohol intake also increase blood pressure as may high stress levels.
Diet
Too much sodium may cause you to retain fluid which may raise your blood pressure. Because potassium balances sodium in your cells, by having an insufficient amount of it may result in too much sodium in your blood. A low vitamin D level may cause high blood pressure because it affects an enzyme produced by your kidneys that affects blood pressure, reports MayoClinic.com.
