What is the range of a normal blood pressure? Read this article to know about blood pressure, measurement of blood pressure, normal blood pressure and risks of high and low blood pressure. ” Blood pressure is the force, exerted by the circulating blood against the wall of blood vessels. In fact, blood pressure is arterial pressure. All arteries (except umbilical and pulmonary) carry oxygenated blood. In a blood circulatory system, arteries are larger blood vessels that pump out blood from the heart. The circulatory system is composed of heart, blood and blood vessels. The heart pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs and oxygenated blood to the body. In each heartbeat, heart is pumping blood into the arteries. A blood pressure measurement includes two pressures – systolic and diastolic. When the heart beats, blood pressure is highest and is called systolic pressure, whereas when the heart is at rest (in between heartbeats), blood pressure is lowest and is called diastolic pressure. In fact, systolic and diastolic are the two main stages of a heart pumping system. Blood Pressure Measurement Measurement of blood pressure involves reading of both systolic and diastolic pressures. Blood pressure measurement is very important to know about the condition of the heart and blood vessels. It is a very easy and painless procedure. Measurement of blood pressure (arterial pressure) is usually done by using a sphygmomanometer. A sphygmomanometer is an instrument consisting of a column of mercury, which reflects the blood-circulating pressure. Blood pressure measurement is written with the systolic pressure above or before the diastolic pressure, for example, 120/80 mmHg. The unit used to measure blood pressure is “mmHg” (millimeters of mercury). Measurement can be also be done by using electronic measuring devices. The advantage of using electronic measuring device is that there are fewer errors in the measurement. Also, mercury (a hazardous element) is not used in electronic devices. A 24-hour measurement of blood pressure is done, which is called ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). In ABPM, a person wears a device, which measures his/her blood pressure at regular intervals and gets recorded in a chip. Regular blood pressure measurement is recommended, since an increase or decrease condition in systolic and diastolic pressures may lead to certain disease complications. Normal blood pressure A normal (healthy) blood pressure range varies from one individual to another. It depends upon the age of the person and his/her profession or activities. The normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 mmHg. However, blood pressure falling in the range of 90/60 mmHg to 130/80 mmHg is considered to be normal. Normally, blood pressure fluctuates and tends to go up and down even for a healthy person. However, if a person’s measurement remains higher than the normal blood pressure for most of the time, then the person is at risk. Systolic reading between 120 and 139 mmHg and diastolic reading in a range of 80-89 mmHg is prehypertension. Readings above prehypertension is high blood pressure or hypertension. There are also cases of low blood pressure or hypotension, in which the blood pressure is below the normal reading. There are certain risks associated with low and high blood pressure. Risks for Low and High Blood Pressure The symptoms of low blood pressure include weakness, fatigue, dizziness and lethargy. Main cause of low blood pressure is due to malnutrition. Low blood pressure is more common among older people and those people, who are in medication for high blood pressure. Prolonged stress and frustration can also cause low blood pressure. Many a times, thyroid problems occur in conjunction with low blood pressure. People with low blood pressure are advised to eat healthy and nutritious foods. Consuming salt to a certain amount also proves to be useful for low-pressure people. High blood pressure is also called as ‘silent killer” since there are no prominent symptoms. It increases the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Hypertension may be due to narrowing of the blood vessels, which forces the heart to pump harder for circulating blood to other parts of the body. High blood pressure may also affect the other organs of the body. Some of the effects of hypertension are heart failure, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, impaired vision, vascular dementia, and other diseases related to blood vessel and blood circulation. Ways to lower hypertension include natural home remedies and prescribed medication. Normal blood pressure can be maintained by following a healthy diet scheme, regular exercise and medication, if required. Drinking alcoholic beverages to more than a certain limit is proved to be harmful for both low- and high-pressure people. Smoking proves to increase the risk of high blood pressure. Studies have found out that human urine contains a hormone of xanthurenic-acid derivative, which can help in treatment of hypertension by flushing out excess sodium from the body. Antioxidants found in grapes can also help in treating hypertension. There are certain low-pressure diets and high-pressure diets recommended to control blood pressure. It is advisable to check your blood pressure regularly. If necessary, consult your physician or other related health practitioner to guide you to the right treatment.
