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What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is only classed as high if it doesn t go down when you rest. Permanently raised blood pres-
sure can be caused by several factors such as hardening of the arteries, smoking or drinking too much
alcohol. It can also be caused by cholesterol, a type of fat, building up inside your blood vessels and
making them narrower. Being under stress can add to the problem.
High blood pressure is also known to run in families hence if you find you have a high blood pressure it is a
good idea to test other closely related members of your family.
200
150
100
50
6AM 12 6PM 12
Morning Afternoon Evening
Get-
ting up
Arriving
at the
Company
Discussion
on the
Telephone
Argument
in a Meeting
Leaving the
Company Dinner Sleep
Systolic
Blood Pressure
Diastolic
Blood Pressure
(mmHg)
Fluctuation within a Day
(Example: 35-year-old male)
Why is it a Good Thing To Measure Blood Pressure at Home?
Having your blood pressure measured by a doctor can cause anxiety which is a cause itself of high blood
pressure. As a variety of conditions affect blood pressure, a single measurement may not be sufficient for
an accurate diagnosis.
The blood pressure measured first thing in the morning after getting up, before eating and while at rest, is
known as the fundamental blood pressure. In practice it is rather difficult to record the fundamental blood
pressure, but it is important to get readings in an environment that is as close as possible to this.
Classification of Blood Pressure by the
World Heath Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International
Society of Hypertention (ISH) devolloped the Blood Pressure
Classification shown in this figure.
This classification is based on the blood presure values mea-
sured on people in a sitting position in outpatient depart-
ments of hospitals.
*There is no universally accepted definition of hypotension. However, those
having the systolic pressure below 100 mmHg are assumed as hypotensive.
(mmHg)
According to the blood pressure classification by the WHO/ISH* (revised in 1999)
* International Society of Hypertension
(mmHg)
80 85
90 100 110
120
130
140
160
180
Systolic blood pressure
Diastoric
blood
pressure
Optimal biood
pressure
(target value)
Nomal blood pressure
Nomal systoric value
Mild hypertension
Moderate hypertension
Severe hypertension
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