Filter
Top Products
TITLE
24
TITLE
ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE
What Causes High Blood Pressure ?
Blood pressure is only classed as high if it doesn’t go down when you rest.
Permanently raised blood pressure 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.
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.
Dinner Sleep
Rest room
Breakfast
Lunch
Blood pressure
(mmHg)
Systolic
blood
pressure
Diastolic
blood
pressure
Time
Brachial blood pressure data
Fluctuation within a Day
(Example: 35-year-old male)
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
17 : 00 23 : 00 5 : 00 11 : 00 17 : 00
(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
Classification of Blood Pressure by the World
Heath Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the
International Society of Hypertention (ISH) developed
the Blood Pressure Classification shown in this figure.
This classification is based on the blood presure values
measured on people in a sitting position in outpatient
departments of hospitals.
*There is no universally accepted definition of hypotension.
However, those having the systolic pressure below 100 mmHg are
assumed as hypotensive.
T9P new (6) 7/17/02 6:05 PM Page 24