Blood Pressure Basics
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There are no hard and fast figures which represent a normal
blood pressure. And very often doctors and other experts cannot
even decide between them what an ideal blood pressure range is
for an adult.
However it is usually agreed that somewhere between 110/70 and
125/80 is considered to be an average blood pressure for a grown
person, though someone with naturally low blood pressure may be
closer to a range of 100/60
A blood pressure of 140/90 is considered to be high, though as a
person gets older, this falls into the more normal range for
people.
Blood doesn't circulate in an even stream around the body, but
travels in a constant series of spurts. Therefore the pressure
peaks in the blood vessels just after a heart beat and then ebbs
until the next one. This is a continuous process.
The two blood pressure figures represent the pressures when the
forces are at their peak and at their lowest ebb. The stronger
the arteries are, the more they resist the force of the blood
and the lower the blood pressure.
As a person gets older, and the elasticity of their arteries
weakens, the figures tend to rise. However the lower figure
should still be under 90 until that person at least reaches
their sixties.
Many studies looking at blood pressure in both black and white
people have found there is a higher prevalence of hypertension
(High blood pressure) in black people than there is in white.
This has led to further research in determining whether this is
racially determined or just based on socioeconomic and dietary
factors.
Some people suffering high blood pressure may find they just
can't pinpoint a cause for their problem. They may be fit, have
a very healthy lifestyle yet their blood pressure remains
consistently high for no apparent reason. This is called Primary
or essential high blood pressure. However if the raised blood
pressure is due to an underlying medical problem, it is known as
Secondary High Blood Pressure.
Nearly one in four people in the Western world have high blood
pressure. Many people don't appreciate it is a dangerous
condition that can lead to a heart attack kidney failure or
stroke if it is left untreated. Yet there are thousands of
people unaware they have high blood pressure who are walking
around with a lethal time bomb ticking away inside them.
Guide to Blood Pressure, low and high blood pressure and
treatment.