About Safe Blood Pressure Readings

Blood pressure, the pressure the heart puts on the arteries to pump blood through the body, is one of the most important vital signs in the body. These sets of numbers are very important, as they can accurately reflect the risks of heart disease, stroke, heart failure, kidney disease and other conditions. There are many potential causes for high and low blood pressure readings. Fortunately, there are many treatments available as well, including medication, diet change and weight loss.

Blood Pressure

• The arteries pump blood throughout the body. Blood pressure is the pressure the heart puts on these arteries to circulate the blood. A healthy person's arteries are elastic and can stretch to withstand the pressure. An unhealthy person with high or low blood pressure has arteries that are either too stretched or not elastic enough. This can cause significant damage to the heart and other organs.

Numbers

• Blood pressure is measured in a set of numbers, not a single number. Generally, blood pressure is considered healthy when it measures 120/80 mmHg or lower. The first number indicates how much resistance is created in the arteries as the heart beats. The second number indicates how much resistance is created when the heart is at rest between beats.

Causes

• Only five to ten percent of patients know the cause of their high blood pressure, according to eHealthMD. These causes can include pregnancy, medications, hormonal diseases, heart deformities, narrowing of the arteries, kidney diseases or certain injuries. Patients with these known conditions are referred to as having "secondary hypertension."

  In the remaining cases of primary hypertension, a cause cannot be found for the high blood pressure. There is suspicion in the medical community that lifestyle, heredity, age, gender, race and other individual factors can affect blood pressure.

  Low blood pressure, on the other hand, is most commonly caused by dehydration, heart disease, severe bleeding or inflammation in the body.

Causes

• While high and low blood pressure both carry risks and can be very damaging to the body, high blood pressure carries more serious consequences. People with high blood pressure have a higher risk of stroke and heart complications such as heart disease, heart attack and heart failure. Kidney failure can also result because high blood pressure damages the blood vessels in the kidneys, reducing the kidney's effectiveness at removing wastes and fluids from the body. The extra fluid causes additional pressure, putting additional strain on the heart and arteries.

  When blood pressure becomes too low, vital organs do not receive enough blood to function properly. This can result in extreme dizziness, fainting, shock, heart attack and organ failure.

Treatments

• Treatments are available for chronic high or low blood pressure. The best way to regulate or prevent blood pressure problems is by living a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating nutritious foods and exercising regularly.

  High blood pressure can be triggered by excessive sodium and saturated fats, so it is beneficial to avoid these items. Exercise and weight loss can help improve blood circulation.

  Medications are also available to treat high and low blood pressure, but must be obtained from a licensed physician.