King's Pharmacy
When Should I Check My Blood Pressure?
Sometimes high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, calls for immediate medical attention. This applies if your blood pressure spikes quickly and severely. Keep reading to learn more about blood pressure testing in Birmingham.
What are ideal normal blood pressure readings by age?
You will often be given 2 numbers—a top and a bottom one—when your blood pressure is taken.
– Systolic blood pressure. This is the first or top number. Your blood pressure reaches its highest level when your heart beats, pumping blood throughout your body. This is what is known as systolic blood pressure.
– Diastolic blood pressure. As your heart starts to slow down in between beats, your blood pressure reaches its lowest value at this time. The reading’s second number is diastolic blood pressure.
Typically, millimetres of mercury (mmHg) is used to measure blood pressure. If the first value is 120 and the second number is 80, for instance, the formula would be represented as 120/80mmHg.
The optimal blood pressure range is between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. Usually, this is referred to as normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure reading is normal, so that’s good news. At this level, your risk of having heart disease and stroke is greatly reduced. By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you can keep it within an acceptable range.
What are the ideal blood pressure readings for men vs. women?
The recommended blood pressure levels for each age and gender are shown below:
Male
– 21-25 – 120.5/78.5
– 26-30 – 119.5/76.5
– 31-35 – 114.5/75.5
– 36-40 – 120.5/75.5
– 41-45 – 115.5/78.5
– 46-50 – 119.5/80.5
– 51-55 – 125.5/80.5
– 56-60 – 129.5/79.5
– 61-65 – 143.5/76.5
Female
– 21-25 – 115.5/70.5
– 26-30 – 113.5/71.5
– 31-35 – 110.5/72.5
– 36-40 – 112.5/74.5
– 41-45 – 116.5/73.5
– 46-50 – 124/78.5
– 51-55 – 122.55/74.5
– 56-60 – 132.5/78.5
– 61-65 – 130.5/77.5
Women should seek professional help for hypertension if their systolic blood pressure is higher than 110 because their normal blood pressure is usually lower than men’s. This is lower than the current threshold for both sexes, which is 120.
When should I go for blood pressure testing in Birmingham?
Seek medical help if your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher, and you have any of the following symptoms, which could signal organ damage:
– Chest pain
– Shortness of breath
– Change in vision
– Difficulty speaking
– Severe headache
– Numbness or weakness
When should a pregnant woman go for blood pressure testing?
Unlike other people, if a pregnant woman’s blood pressure is 140/90 or above, she should seek medical help. In addition to high blood pressure, the following symptoms could also manifest:
– Upper abdominal pain
– Vision changes
– Headaches
– Swelling – especially in the hands and feet
What are the causes of high blood pressure?
Your chance of having high blood pressure is increased by being overweight, not exercising regularly, and having diseases like diabetes.
How do you achieve normal blood pressure readings?
You can get help from doctors or pharmacists to keep your blood pressure constant by:
– Working on lifestyle changes
– Using medicines
However, this is different for each person.
Speak with your doctor or pharmacist to help you decide on the best course of treatment. Some people with high blood pressure may also need to take 1 or more medicines to keep their blood pressure from getting too high.
Visit your nearest King’s Pharmacy branch to get your blood pressure readings.
This blog post was written on behalf of King’s Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.