Often, each person asks the question: “Why do I need to know the magnitude of my blood pressure?
According to medical statistics, even a slight increase in blood pressure (only ten millimeters) leads to an increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by thirty percent. People suffering from high blood pressure are seven times more likely to have strokes, four times more likely to have coronary heart disease, and the vessels of their legs are almost twice as likely to be damaged. Frequent manifestations of discomfort associated with headache, weakness, dizziness, are the result of changes in blood pressure.
Millimeters of mercury are used as units for measuring blood pressure. A digital value of 120/80 indicates that a person has normal blood pressure. The norm of the indicator of the magnitude of the upper (systolic) pressure is one hundred twenty millimeters of mercury. The indicator of the magnitude of the lower (diastolic) pressure is eighty millimeters of mercury.
To measure blood pressure:
- electronic tonometers. They are mainly used for home purposes. There are also semiautomatic and automatic meters that do not require additional training for their users;
- mechanical tonometers. They are based on the use of the Korotkov method. They require their users to have certain skills and knowledge. They are used in professional medicine.
To find out what pressure is the norm, in 1999 a classification of various pressure levels (in mmHg) was developed and adopted:
- optimal level 120/80;
- normal level 130/85;
- normal high level 135 / 85-90;
- initial hypertension level 140/90;
- level of moderate hypertension 160/100;
- the level of severe hypertension is 180/110.
Talking about what pressure is normal is very difficult. The indicator largely depends on how old a person is and on his individual characteristics, professional occupation and lifestyle.
Emotional and physical stress also leaves its mark. Mental instability, nervous stress lead to an increase in the normative indicator of pressure. But for professional athletes, on the contrary, 90/50 blood pressure is considered normal and does not cause discomfort and poor health.
In addition, in childhood, blood pressure (normal) depends on the age of the baby. Since the younger the child is, the wider the capillary network in the circulatory system is developed, and the lower the blood pressure in the bed of the elastic vessels.
As the child grows, children's pressure also changes. Its norm begins to increase gradually. So, in babies born, the normal pressure indicator is 66/55 millimeters of mercury. Per year - 90/55. In the transitional age of twelve, pressure can range from 100/70 to 135/85 mm Hg. pillar. Moreover, before reaching the age of five, the pressure indicator is the same for both boys and girls. And after five years, the normal pressure score for boys is five to nine units greater than for girls.
A woman of retirement age and a young girl who has just graduated from school will also have a difference in normal pressure. At eighteen, I want to laugh and enjoy life when the tonometer needle stops at a value of 120/80 or 110/70. But at sixty with a tail, such an indicator will indicate that a person has low blood pressure. The norm for this age increases to the readings of 150/90 millimeters of mercury.
The individual characteristics of the body, weather conditions, time of day, the performance of hard physical work can also increase or decrease blood pressure (which, taking into account these factors, will be considered normal)
The main step towards the normalization of such an important indicator should be the implementation of changes in the daily routine and lifestyle. It will be necessary to review the menu, be sure to add physical activity and abandon bad habits. For example, the loss of five kilograms of weight can reduce the upper vascular pressure by five units, and the lower by 2-4. And this is without any medication!