Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure? Well, there are two figures to look at. The lower (diastolic) blood pressure is the resting pressure that is there all the time when when the heart is not pumping. The higher figure (systolic) is the maximum blood pressure when the heart is pumping. The figures are measured as millimetres of mercury (mmHg) because a mercury column was the traditional way of measuring blood pressure, though electronic blood pressure monitors are more normally used now.

What is normal blood pressure? The typical blood pressure usually quoted is 120 mmHg systolic and 80 mmHg diastolic. This is normally written as 120/80 mmHg and spoken as "one twenty over eighty". This is an ideal blood pressure of a healthy adult at rest. This varies throughout the day in a circadian rhythm, being lower during the night. It also varies on a minute by minute basis depending on exercise, meals, stress and emotions.

What is high blood pressure? Blood pressures over 140/90 would normally be treated by your doctor with medicines, but if you have other risk factors such as diabetes your doctor will normally set the target levels even lower. You can very often lower your own blood pressure by following lifestyle advice shown opposite, or given in more detail in the books above. Even if you take medicines you should still follow the lifestyle advice, because it can mean that you can take the lowest dose of medicine or come off them completely.

Lowering high blood pressure by only 5mm at the upper end (systolic) decreases your chances of having a heart attack by a fifth, and your risk if having a stroke by a third.

Blood pressure usually increases as we age, and this was thought to be natural until it was found that high blood pressure is a risk factor at any age. This has lead to blood pressure treatment being regarded as a priority by your doctor using drugs and lifestyle changes. This emphasis has lead to the UK's appauling record of heart disease starting to gradually improve.

High blood pressure is a silent killer and can only be detected by having your blood pressure measured properly. Your doctor will do this as part of your regular medical checks, or you can do it yourself with a blood pressure monitor at home.

High blood pressure is common

• 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure
• 1 in 10 adults are taking blood pressure medicines
• 3 out of 4 people over 60 have high blood pressure
• 1 in 4 people over 60 are taking blood pressure medicines

High blood pressure and the rule of halves -

1. Half the people with high blood pressure have not been diagnosed
2. Of those diagnosed - half are not being treated
3. In half of those being treated it was not properly controlled

These figures show that high blood pressure is widespread and not properly treated or controlled, and this is a big factor in the high levels of heart disease in the UK. So make sure that you are looking after your health by having your blood pressure checked regularly, and by applying all the lifestyle advice to your own life to keep your blood pressure under control.

High blood pressure can contribute to these illnesses -

• Angina
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Stroke

The morning surge in blood pressure when you get up is thought to be particularly important, as this surge may cause a heart attack or stroke, which often happen at this time, especially during the winter, as this surge is greater in cold weather. The higher blood pressure at this time can settle down during the morning, and is then not picked up by your doctor when measuring your blood pressure. It is thought that using a blood pressure monitor at home can detect this, which your doctor can miss. It can also detect if your blood pressure medication is not working at this time. The Omron M10-IT blood pressure monitor has a special function to record and chart your morning readings.

How to lower blood pressure -

• Give up smoking
• Exercise regularly
• Control your alcohol consumption
• Control your insulin levels by dieting and losing weight if necessary to avoid metabolic syndrome and diabetes
• Avoid stress and relax
• Healthy Eating is important especially low fat, low salt and high fibre
• Control your cholesterol and homocysteine levels

Supplements for heart and circulation can help your heart and circulation as part of a balanced diet and lifestyle.

Measuring your own blood pressure with one of our blood pressure monitors is simple and straightforward, and we have listed our best buy blood pressure monitors to help you choose the best value. Remember that your blood pressure readings at home may be a little lower than those taken by your doctor at the surgery because you are more relaxed. This effect is called "white coat syndrome" and is because we all tend to be a bit more stressed at the doctor's surgery, even though doctor's don't tend to wear white coats now. The important thing is to look for any trend in the readings, so that you know if your blood pressure is going up or down.