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ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE
What is blood pressure?
When the heart pumps blood around the body, the blood
exerts pressure on the walls of the blood vessels. This is
known as blood pressure.
• Blood pressure is different in different parts of the body
and depends on the pulse, how elastic the blood vessels
are and how thick the blood is.
• The pressure that can be measured when the heart
pumps out into the body is known as systolic blood
pressure. The pressure that can be measured when blood
runs back from the body is known as diastolic blood
pressure.
• The two types of blood pressure are usually given
together, with the systolic blood pressure always given
first. If blood pressure is given as "120/70" (expressed as
"120 over 70"), this means that the systolic blood
pressure is 120, and the diastolic 70.
• The measurement unit for blood pressure is mmHg
(millimetres of mercury).
Why does blood pressure vary?
Blood pressure varies throughout the day and over a
person’s life. Many different factors affect your blood
pressure, something you should be aware of when taking
your blood pressure. For instance, be aware of the following:
• Blood pressure is higher during the day than at night.
• Blood pressure increases slightly after you have just
eaten. A lot of salt in food can also increase blood
pressure.
• Light exercise (e.g. walking and jogging) causes the
systolic blood pressure to rise slightly, while hard exercise
will cause it to rise dramatically. However, it will fall again
when the body relaxes. A lack of exercise raises blood
pressure permanently.
• Blood pressure can increase if you are excited, stressed
or tense.
• Sudden climatic changes can cause blood pressure to
rise.
• The systolic pressure increases with age.
•Women have a greater risk of increased blood pressure
after the menopause.
• Insufficient sleep, smoking, obesity, alcohol and certain
illnesses cause blood pressure to rise.
• Bathing and toilet visits may cause blood pressure to rise.
When is my blood pressure too high or too low?
High blood pressure is also called hypertension. Low blood
pressure is also called hypotension. The diagram below
shows when your blood pressure is too high or too low.
Range Systolic Diastolic
Hypertension > 140 mmHg > 90 mmHg
High normal 130-139 mmHg 85-89 mmHg
Normal 91-129 mmHg 51-84 mmHg
Hypotension < 90 mmHg < 50 mmHg
Why should I measure my blood pressure?
Blood pressure naturally increases as you get older, but high
blood pressure can also be the first sign of illness, being
overweight or of the arteries beginning to stiffen, which
increases the risk of blood clots, among other things. It is
therefore a good idea to keep an eye on your blood pressure
and consult a doctor if it seems unusually high or low.
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