Understanding
Blood Pressure
Readings
Blood pressure refers to
the force of the body’s
blood pushing against
the inner walls of the
blood vessels,
especially the arteries. Each time the heart
contracts, it pumps
blood into the arteries.
Your blood pressure doesn’t stay constant throughout the
day. It is lowest when you’re sleeping, and rises when
you get up and start moving about. It can also go up
when you are excited, nervous or physically active.
Systolic pressure refers to the blood pressure in the
arteries that results when your heart contracts or
beats, pushing blood out. When your heart relaxes
between beats, blood pressure in the arteries falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
How to
read your blood pressure reading?
Blood
pressure is typically recorded as 2 numbers presented as a ratio like this:
|
Read as “117 over 76 millimeters of mercury”
OR simply as
117 over 76
|
|
Systolic
The top number (the higher of the two numbers
shown) measures the pressure in the arteries
when the heart beats (which is when the heart
muscle contracts). |
|
Diastolic
The bottom number (the lower of the two numbers)
measures the pressure in the arteries between
heartbeats (that is when the heart muscle is
resting between beats and refilling with blood). |
| |
|
|
A healthy blood pressure reading should be lower
than 120/80 mmHg.
Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg
systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic (Figure 1 Blood
Pressure Chart), and may vary from 90/60mmHg to
120/80mmHg in a healthy young woman.
A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or higher
indicates high blood pressure.
|
Figure 1: Blood pressure chart
► |
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Blood
Pressure Level Categories
|
Categories For Blood Pressure Levels In Adults
(Aged 18 Years And Older) |
|
|
Blood Pressure Level (mmHg) |
|
Category |
Systolic |
|
Diastolic |
|
Normal BP |
< 120 |
and |
< 80 |
|
High-Normal BP |
130 |
or |
80 – 89 |
|
High Blood Pressure |
|
|
Stage 1 Hypertension |
140 – 159 |
or |
90 – 99 |
|
Stage 2 Hypertension |
160 |
or |
100 |
|
* Isolated Systolic Hypertension |
> 140 |
and |
< 90 |
Notes:
1. When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into
different categories, the higher category should be used
to classify blood
pressure level. For example, 160/80 mmHg would be stage
2 hypertension (high blood pressure).
2. *Isolated systolic hypertension is graded according
to the same level of systolic BP.
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Blood
Pressure Measuring at Home / Office
Anyone
can
measure your own blood pressure at home
with a digital blood pressure device that can be
purchased at pharmacies,
health care stores
etc. Read the instructions carefully. You may wish to
calibrate your reading with your family doctor. However
that is usually not needed as almost all commercial
units comes calibrated.
The
proper time to take the measurement is when you are at
rest. Please refrain from any physical activities 30
minutes before each measurement. These will help
to ensure the accuracy of your reading:
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►
|
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Sit in a comfortable
position
|
|
|
► |
|
Place your LEFT arm,
raised to the level
of your heart, on a
table or desk, and
sit still (take note
that the left arm is
preferred as your
heart is positioned
at the left-centre
of your body)
|
|
|
► |
|
Wrap the cuff of the
monitor smoothly and
snugly around the
upper part of your
bare arm
|
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Why is my
blood pressure fluctuating? Is my blood pressure machine
faulty?
Researchers from the “Center for Health Research and
Rural Advocacy at Geisinger Health System” in
Pennsylvania have found that time of day and time of
year can influence blood pressure readings by as much as
40%.
Doctors
have also found that blood pressure also fluctuates with
physical activity and emotional state, it would be
better if you can measure your blood pressure at the
same time everyday, under resting conditions and on more
than one occasion. This will allow the results be
comparable easier.
|
|
|
 |
|
▲
Digital blood pressure device |
|
|
Do not be alarmed if your blood pressure machine
seems erratic.
Firstly, Do make sure you read the instructions
thoroughly
and your blood pressure machine is from
a trusted brand. Most of the highly
reputed brands of blood pressure machines are
established brand names from Japan or Europe.
Secondly, ensure that the products you bought is
from an Authorised Dealers, beware of fakes. Authorised Dealers means that you can have peace
of mind as any errors can be solved by
re-calibrating by the brand staff in their
customer service offices. |
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Article contributed by:
Cedric Soh,
SeniorCare, Online
Elderly Care Retail
Store
Dated: October 2016
|
SeniorCare
is the
largest
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elderly care
retail
store. We
carry adult
nutritional
meal
replacement
shakes such
as Ensure,
Glucerna and
Resource,
incontinence
care and
adult
diapers,
mobility
aids, health
supplement,
toilet and
bathroom
aids,
pressure
relief etc.
to help
better care
for your
loved ones. |
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