What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure or the force of the blood inside our blood vessels. This force is needed so that the blood can flow and deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout our body. It is measured using two measurements. 

The first measurement is called systolic. It is taken when the heart beats and thus the pressure in our arteries is at its highest. 

The second one is called diastolic. It is taken between heartbeats. This means the heart is relaxed and the blood pressure is at its lowest. 

The measurement under standard conditions should ideally be 120/80 mm Hg or less. According to the Canadian hypertension guidelines, a blood pressure above 140/90 is called hypertension, meaning high blood pressure. 

High blood pressure means that there is a long term too much pressure on the walls of the arteries. This can damage the blood vessels and is seen as a risk factor for cardiovascular disorders.

 

Who suffers from high blood pressure?

High blood pressure has become a common disease. In industrial countries, between 10 and 50% of adults are affected by it. The frequency increases significantly with age. Only about 1 in 4 people aged 60 or over have normal blood pressure readings. 

High blood pressure often goes unnoticed without warning signs. However, some people may experience hypertension symptoms. These include blurry vision, fatigue, hypertension headache, dizziness, nosebleed, nausea, and palpitations.

 

Which blood pressure readings are optimal, normal, or high?

Blood pressure increases with exertion – with strenuous exercise as well as stress. Pregnancy and some medications also raise blood pressure. This is perfectly normal. We use the term high blood pressure if it is above 140/90 mm Hg permanently and at rest. 

Blood pressure readings can be classified as follows:

  • Optimal readings: below 120/80mmHg
  • Normal readings: below 130/85mmHg
  • High normal readings: below 140/90mmHg
  • High blood pressure (severity 1): below 160/100mmHg
  • High blood pressure (severity 2): below 180/110mmHg
  • High blood pressure (severity 3): above 180/110mmHg
  • Isolated systolic high blood pressure: above 140/ below 90mmHg

Hypertensive crisis: the increase of the blood pressure is sudden and above 180/120mmHg. It is a medical emergency that requires you to call 911.

 

What causes high blood pressure?

Generally, there are 2 types of high blood pressure: primary and secondary. If there is no identifiable cause, this is known as primary hypertension. High blood pressure is considered to be the actual disease. This is described as the diagnosis by exclusion. 

If the blood pressure increases due to an underlying secondary cause, this is termed secondary hypertension. The causes are usually disorders of the hormonal system, cardiovascular system, or renal damage.

Many factors affect blood pressure, some just temporarily, others permanently:

  • Age
  • Exertion, exercise
  • Tension, psychological stress
  • Lack of exercise
  • Weight (BMI)
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • Deficiency of particular vitamins, amino acids or minerals (also excess)
  • Hormonal control
  • Organ function (thyroid, heart, kidneys, lungs)
  • Hereditary factors
  • Medications, alcohol, nicotine

 

What do blood pressure readings mean?

Blood pressure is a measurement of the pressure or force exerted by the blood inside a blood vessel. Blood pressure readings are given in units of millimetres of mercury (mmHg). 

These are always stated as two values on the blood pressure monitor. First, the systolic and then the diastolic reading is given. 

The first value is the so-called systolic blood pressure. When the heart contracts, the blood is forced out of the left chamber into the body's circulatory system. The pressure is transferred via the aorta to the subsequent arteries. This phase is described as systole. 

The second value is the diastolic value. After systole, the pressure in the vessels decreases. This so-called diastolic phase indicates relaxation.

More and more people are using home blood pressure monitors to measure their blood pressure on a regular basis. They can be bought without a prescription and many different types to choose from. 

 

When and why is high blood pressure dangerous?

Permanent high blood pressure puts a strain on the vessels. It makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. 

This mainly affects the left side of the heart. The lower left heart chamber can get thicker or stiffer. This so-called enlarged left heart increases the risk of a heart attack or failure.

If uncontrolled, high blood pressure can weaken the heart muscle over time and then lead to heart failure. It also damages the kidneys and the retina, the light-sensitive tissue in our eyes. 

High blood pressure raises the risk of arteriosclerosis, which is deposited in the vessels. This, in turn, promotes the development of heart diseases, primarily heart attack and stroke. 

The more risk factors for hypertension that appear, the greater the danger of these life-threatening diseases. Other factors are severe obesity, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol levels. 

Therefore, it is especially important for diabetics and people who are overweight to make sure that their blood pressure readings are healthy. 

Systemic vs pulmonary hypertension

Systemic or regular high blood pressure affects the arteries throughout the body. Pulmonary hypertension, on the contrary, describes a rather rare condition. It affects the arteries in the lungs, leading to high blood pressure in the lungs. 

Pulmonary hypertension can develop slowly, and early symptoms of pulmonary hypertension are similar to other heart or lung diseases. Risk factors include a family history of the disorder, living at high altitudes, or being overweight. 

While there is no cure available yet, healthy lifestyle changes can improve the symptoms of pulmonary hypertension.

 

How can high blood pressure be lowered?

Depending on the severity and cause of hypertension, age and the condition of the other organs, there is a variety of medications available. These must be prescribed by a doctor. Calcium channel blockers are a group of drugs that are widely used for hypertension treatment. 

In addition, there is also a wide range of measures that can help treat high blood pressure or prevent this from occurring.

Here are some suggestions for home remedies and behaviours to gently regulate your blood pressure:

Eat in a health-conscious manner:

  • Plenty of vegetables
  • Few animal fats, but good vegetable oils
  • Plenty of fermented milk products (sourdough bread, sauerkraut)
  • Reduce sodium intake (not more than 5 g of salt per day)
  • Abstain from alcohol or reduce alcohol intake to 2 drinks per day or less
  • Make sure to take plenty of antioxidants: vitamin C, dark berries and fruit

 

  • Strive for normal weight or pay attention to your BMI, or even better your abdominal girth (women maximum of 88 cm, men 102 cm)
  • Do not smoke!
  • Exercise regularly in the fresh air, do light endurance training
  • Avoid stress and ensure that you have sufficient time for relaxation activities!
  • Seek medical advice from your pharmacist, doctor or alternative practitioner

 

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