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Blood Pressure - how to measure and manage - #knowyournumbers
In this article we show you how you can "#KnowYourNumbers":
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What is blood pressure, and what do the numbers mean?
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We describe how high blood pressure can be bad for your health
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In our next article we share reviews of blood pressure monitors, and which might be good buys.
What is blood pressure, and what do the numbers mean?
Blood pressure is how hard your blood is pressing onto the insides of your veins and arteries. It's a measure of how hard your heart is working to push blood around your body. High blood pressure can damage your veins and arteries, leading to eye damage, kidney damage, heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure is nick-named 'The silent killer' as it can be symptomless [you don't feel it happening] until something goes badly wrong.
Blood Pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as 2 figures:
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systolic pressure – the pressure when your heart pushes blood out
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diastolic pressure – the pressure when your heart rests between beats
For example, if your blood pressure is "140 over 90" or 140/90mmHg, it means you have a systolic pressure of 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg.
As a general guide:
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normal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg
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high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher
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low blood pressure is considered to be 90/60mmHg or lower
A blood pressure reading between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg could mean you're at risk of developing high blood pressure if you don't take steps to keep your blood pressure under control.
Either your systolic pressure or diastolic pressure can be too high, or too low, on their own, the table below shows how doctors interpret your readings.
We have also collected together some videos from The British Heart Foundation, and other good sources of information.
How to use this blood pressure chart to work out what your blood pressure readings mean
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STEP 1 : find your top number (systolic) on the left side (y-axis) of the blood pressure chart
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STEP 2: Now and read across and find your bottom number (diastolic) on the bottom (x-axis) of the blood pressure chart.
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STEP 3: The colour where the two lines meet is what kind of blood pressure you have:
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Blue - Low
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Green - Ideal
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Yellow - Pre-high blood pressure
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Red - High Blood Pressure
If you are concerned that your blood pressure is very very high or low, try taking the readings again, and if you are still concerned, contact 111 for advice.
Further Information - #KnowYourNumbers
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If you, or someone you know, would prefer to read a leaflet about high blood pressure, download and print one from Blood Pressure UK
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To compare a few different blood pressure monitors, and for recommended buys, visit this page on our site
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Blood Pressure UK has a range of useful advice and leaflets
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The British Heart Foundation has a very useful website that has videos and detailed information about different illnesses caused by high blood pressure
Videos to help you understand your blood pressure readings
We have collected together these videos which explain blood pressure readings, and discuss blood pressure in more detail, and talk about some effects of high blood pressure e.g. strokes and heart attacks.
We start with the easiest ones, if you keep swiping you will find they get longer and more complicated.
Understanding Blood Pressure
Understanding Blood Pressure
Understanding Blood Pressure
How blood pressure works - Wilfred Manzano
What is High Blood Pressure? | New Hypertension Guidelines! | Doctor Mike
How high blood pressure can be bad for your health
If your blood pressure is too high, it puts extra strain on your blood vessels, heart and other organs, such as the brain, kidneys and eyes.
Persistent high blood pressure can increase your risk of a number of serious and potentially life-threatening health conditions, such as:
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heart disease
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heart attacks
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strokes
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heart failure
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peripheral arterial disease
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aortic aneurysms
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kidney disease
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vascular dementia
If you have high blood pressure, reducing it even a small amount can help lower your risk of these health conditions.
Videos about the effects on your body of high blood pressure
We have collected here some videos about high blood pressure can damage your health, and the kinds of bad things that might happen if you don't take some action to lower your blood pressure.
The videos vary from quick and simple, to longer and more in-depth ones.
How high blood pressure can affect you
How high blood pressure can affect you
British Heart Disease - Priscila's story
What is a heart attack
The Stroke Effect: Life after a Stroke
Next steps - tracking your Blood Pressure, and having a plan
Hopefully you have found some information so far useful.
The NHS recommends that if you are over 40 you should check your blood pressure at least every five years or so.
You can do this by:
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Visiting a Pharmacy, some may charge for this service, you can book online at Lloyds Pharmacies for example, click this link [and scroll down to "services"].
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Visiting your GP [they may have a blood pressure monitor in reception]
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Buying your own Blood Pressure monitor [see our guide here]
Under a new NHS scheme some GPs are also loaning 220,000 blood pressure monitors to patients in deprived areas. Your GP will contact you if you qualify. [more info here].
There was also a very good article in the Daily Express about the new scheme.
