Systolic. Diastolic. Normal. Borderline. When getting tested for blood pressure, sometimes it’s difficult to understand the results and terminology of a blood pressure test. But understanding your blood pressure test is vital, as high or low blood pressure can cause numerous health problems, some of which can be fatal.
High blood pressure is often referred to as a “silent killer” because it often presents no symptoms until it’s too late. For this reason, it’s important to have your blood pressure checked on a yearly basis, at minimum. Most people have their blood pressure tested each time they go to the doctor or hospital. Some stores and pharmacies have blood pressure machines in the store, so you don’t have to go to the doctor to find out your blood pressure.
When your blood pressure is taken, the nurse or technician will place a blood pressure cuff around the upper arm, usually around the bicep or an inch or so above the elbow, and inflate the cuff with a bulb.
Once the cuff is inflated, the nurse will place the stethoscope against the large artery on the inside of the elbow and feel for a pulse. He or she will then listen as the air is slowly released from the cuff. This pressure is released at about 2 mm per second. As the pressure begins to fall, the first sounds that are heard are the systolic pressure. After these sounds disappear, the diastolic pressure is then determined and recorded.
Systolic and Diastolic
A blood pressure test will measure two types of pressure – systolic and diastolic. The systolic pressure reading indicates the pressure when the heart contracts to pump blood. The diastolic pressure reading indicates the pressure between beats, when the heart is in a relaxed state. When recording blood pressure, the systolic number is always written or spoken first; for example, a blood pressure of 120/80 would read, “120 over 80,” 120 being the systolic pressure and 80 being the diastolic.
What Is Normal?
A normal blood pressure carries a reading of 120/80 or less. A pre-hypertension reading, which indicates an elevated risk for high blood pressure without actually being high blood pressure, is between 120-39/80-99.
There are two levels of high blood pressure: Stage One and Stage Two. Stage One high blood pressure 140-159/90-99. Stage Two blood pressure is any reading greater than or equal to 160/100. Generally speaking, the higher the blood pressure, the greater the chance of developing a serious heart condition.
After the Test
If your blood pressure test is normal, keep up the good work! Prevention keys to maintaining a healthy blood pressure including maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, avoiding smoking and excessive drinking, and managing stress levels.
If your blood pressure is pre-hypertension, your doctor will most likely advise you to change certain lifestyle habits. He may encourage you to eat healthier and exercise more. If you smoke, you’ll be advised to quit as smoking increases blood pressure.
If your blood pressure is high, in addition to encouraging lifestyle changes, your doctor may put you on prescription medication to lower the levels. These medicines might include beta-blockers, diuretics, and aspirin.
Sometimes, a person’s blood pressure test will show a low blood pressure. This indicates a lowered amount of blood is flowing throughout the body. Without symptoms such as dizziness and fainting spells, low blood pressure is not considered dangerous. However, when these symptoms are present, low blood pressure can lead to a number of problems, including heart and kidney failure. Most often, another series of tests are conducted to determine the cause of the low pressure, and then medication may be prescribed.
Understanding your blood pressure test is not difficult. By doing a little research and asking your doctor any questions you may have, you can stay informed about the results of your test.