The blood pressure is characterized by the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries. Sometimes this notion is mixed up with that of nervous tension, but they have nothing to do. You’ve probably heard your doctor tell you two numbers after putting a cuff on your biceps. These indications break down into two pieces of information for the doctor.
- The first value indicates the blood pressure when the heart contracts to empty itself. It is also called systolic pressure.
- The second measures the pressure when it releases to fill. This is called the diastolic pressure in medical language.
From what values do we pass from normal blood pressure to hypertension?
“Define a normal blood pressure, or good blood pressure is not simple because everything depends on a number of factors. The patient’s age, condition, physical condition. It drops during sleep, rises when one is active and can skyrocket in the event of violent efforts, stress or anxiety, sometimes psychological shocks (mourning, dismissal for example)”, specifies Doctor Besma Sidia, cardiologist in Paris.
Note that it can increase before a medical consultation, this is called “the white coat effect”. The prospect of seeing a doctor and waiting for medical information can generate a lot of stress.
- A voltage is considered as normal when it is equivalent to 12/8.
- Beyond 14/9, we can evoke arterial hypertension.
- Below, we speak of hypotension.
This is not dangerous for the cardiovascular system. However, it can result in visual disturbances, dizziness, headaches, flies in front of the eyes, etc. “At the beginning of a pregnancy, it is common to find yourself in this situation”. Everything normalizes at the end of this particular period.
Why do you need to check your blood pressure regularly?
High blood pressure can be more problematic. Often, it is not accompanied no symptoms. “The heart has to work a lot more and this type of tension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. If the doctor detects it, he will prescribe a complete cardiac assessment to the patient with, among other things, stress tests, an electrocardiogram, etc.”, adds the specialist. In case of proven hypertension, treatment may be considered, supported by lifestyle and dietary measures.
To know your blood pressure, you can either measure it with your doctor or your pharmacist. Or equip yourself with a blood pressure monitor sold in pharmacies. As long as you don’t become obsessed by taking it several times a day. L’Assurance Maladie now provides physicians with a blood pressure self-measurement device free of charge. This measurement allows the doctor to explain to his patient the technique to measure it with ease.
“To get a real idea of a patient’s condition, you need to have the figures on a regular basis and in different conditions (lying down, sitting, standing, etc.) in order to see if there is an evolution. and in what senseexplains Dr. Besma Sidia. In certain cases, for example that of a suspicion of very disparate blood pressure depending on the time of day, the attending physician may request what is called an ambulatory blood pressure measurement. This is a second home measurement technique carried out over a period of 24 hours, which makes it possible to make a precise point of the variations according to the day.
Remember that it is essential to do check your blood pressure regularlyeven without symptoms, to deal with any eventuality of cardiovascular disease.
Thanks to Doctor Besma Sidia Cardiologist.
Read also:
- Stroke: symptoms, treatments, prevention
- The health benefits of brisk walking
- Women’s smoking in 6 received ideas
- What causes arteries to age?