Blood pressure - What is it? Image picture of an elderly couple in nature
 

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is a general term used to refer to the level of pressure in your blood vessels. For your blood to reach all of your body's organs, it needs to be pumped out of the heart at a certain level of pressure so that the blood circulation in your body is maintained. Blood pressure is generally measured in mmHg (millimetres of mercury).

This value is influenced by your heart's power, the level of resistance in your arterial blood vessels, the blood quantity and other regulatory systems.

 

Interesting facts about blood circulation

When referring to blood pressure, we distinguish between two values:

Systolic (heart value):

The higher systolic value is always displayed at the top on a blood pressure monitor. It indicates the level of pressure in the vascular system when the heart muscle contracts and pumps the blood into the vessels.

Beurer diagram of a systolic heart value

Diastolic (blood vessel value):

The diastolic value is always shown at the bottom on a blood pressure monitor and will be lower than the systolic value. It indicates the pressure at the moment the heart relaxes, and fills with blood again.

Beurer diagram of a diastole - vascular value

Understanding blood pressure values

For adults, the optimum blood pressure is a measurement of 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic) mmHg when at rest. A reading above 140 over 90 mmHg is considred high blood pressure. Low blood pressure can also be a concern and is recognised by a reading below 90 over 60 mmHg.

This table shows the normal and optimum values for blood pressure, as well as the point at which it is classified as low and high. It is perfectly normal for your blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day or from one day to the next.

Beurer image blood pressure values table

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is when the systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or more and the diastolic pressure is 90 mmHg or more.

The heart and blood vessels change as a result of raised blood pressure:

  • the heart muscle thickens,
  • the blood vessels become less elastic and more at risk of deterioration.

These heart and blood vessel changes can lead to many serious conditions – for example heart attacks, heart failure or stroke.

Causes of raised blood pressure

In most cases, raised blood pressure is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle.

This includes:

  • An incorrect and unhealthy diet
  • Excess weight
  • Lack of exercise
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • Nicotine
  • Sleep apnoea
  • Increased salt intake

You can often lower your blood pressure by changing your habits. This could include losing excess weight, switching to a healthier diet, increasing your exercise, exploring stress management techniques, and reducing or eliminating your alcohol and nicotine consumption.

Even a small blood pressure reduction of 5 mmHg can prevent health concerns:

  • The risk of stroke decreases by up to 14%.
  • The risk of heart attack decreases by up to 9%.

High blood pressure often causes no complaints and can go undetected for many years. In such cases, high blood pressure is usually discovered by chance by a doctor – often after it has already left taken its toll on the body.

A reliable way of recognising high blood pressure early is to measure blood pressure at home on a regular basis – even if you have no symptoms.

Girls relax - Health

What is low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure is when the systolic blood pressure is below 90 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is below 60 mmHg.

Please note that low blood pressure is not an illness in and of itself. It only has the potential to become a problem in combination with symptoms such as dizziness or fatigue. Despite this, low blood pressure – also known as hypotension – poses a health risk. For example, dizzy spells can lead to dangerous situations in everyday life.

General causes of low blood pressure

  • Alcohol
  • Pregnancy
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Diabetes or nerve damage caused by diabetes
  • Changes in heart rhythm (arrhythmias)
  • Insufficient fluid intake (dehydration)
  • Diuretics, antidepressants, anti-anxiety medication
  • Blood loss due to an injury causing a sudden drop in blood pressure
  • Heart failure; heart problems such as cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Medication for treating high blood pressure

How can I tell if my blood pressure is low?

Low blood pressure often does not cause any complaints, but can be associated with the following symptoms:

  • Nausea
  • Confusion
  • Fainting
  • Headaches
  • Blurred vision
  • Dizziness or light-headedness
  • Fatigue or feeling weak
  • Neck or back pain
  • Heart palpitations or the feeling that your heart is getting out of sync, is fluttering or is beating too hard or too fast
Beurer blood pressure monitor - man measures blood pressure

What helps to alleviate low blood pressure?

The measurements that you take are for information purposes only and are no substitute for a medical examination. If you take medication that lowers blood pressure, consult a doctor and under no circumstances take any medical decisions yourself (e.g. regarding dosage). A healthy and balanced diet, contrast showers (with alternating hot and cold water) and massaging with a brush can also help. Regular physical exercise, relaxation techniques such as yoga or autogenic training, and making sure you consume enough fluids and get enough sleep are other important factors that can help combat low blood pressure. In addition, if your blood pressure is low, it is advisable to reduce your alcohol consumption. It is also important to ensure a balanced salt intake, as a salty diet can increase blood pressure.

Discover our range of blood pressure monitors and know your numbers.


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