1. What unit is used to measure blood pressure?
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmMg), which is determined by 2 readings called : Systolic blood pressure and Diastolic blood pressure.
2. What is the normal blood pressure reading, what is the optimal blood pressure?
Normally, according to the hypertension classification, blood pressure is considered normal in adults when the systolic blood pressure is measured more than 120 mmHg and the diastolic blood pressure is less than 80 mmHg. More specifically:
Systolic blood pressure (maximum blood pressure): a normal level of 90 - 139 mm Hg;
Diastolic blood pressure (minimum blood pressure): a normal range is between 60-89 mmHg
If the blood pressure reading after measuring and higher than the above number, it is considered high blood pressure. Conversely, if it is lower than the above number, it is called low blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is defined as systolic blood pressure less than 130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure less than 85 mmHg.
3. How do high blood pressure and low blood pressure affect the body?
Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure pose a dangerous situation for the patient. If left untreated, the patient may face the following risks:
For people with high blood pressure:
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and blood, making them work harder and less efficiently.
In addition, LDL (bad) cholesterol forms plaque along small tears in the artery walls, signaling the beginning of atherosclerosis (cutting off all blood flow to the heart, brain, limbs).
In addition, high blood also causes immediate long-term obstacles, because this is a disease that increases with age:
Immediate complications: Cerebrovascular accident, aortic dissection, acute myocardial infarction, acute renal failure, acute pulmonary edema,... directly threatening the patient's life
Long-term complications: If high blood pressure is not controlled and treated properly after a long time, it can lead to: heart failure, bulging heart, vestibular disorders, chronic kidney failure, eye disease, myocardial ischemia causing angina, claudication, arterial hypertension, aneurysm.
High blood pressure affects the brain, heart, eyes, kidneys, reproductive function
For people with low blood pressure:
Low blood pressure does not cause dangerous complications, so patients tend to be subjective. However, low blood pressure has many potential complications such as:
Severe headache: The harder and harder the brain works, the more intense the headache is. Pain is worse at the top of the head.
Syncope: When blood pressure drops too severely, the patient may have fainting symptoms, if not timely intervention may fall into a sudden syncope.
Impaired concentration: Low blood pressure causes blood to not be transported enough to the brain, leading to brain cells not receiving enough oxygen and nutrients, causing a decrease in the ability to concentrate in people with low blood pressure.
Cold and pale skin: When the blood pressure is low, the limbs are often numb and cold because the body cannot maintain the blood supply and oxygen supply to the skin, which lowers body temperature.
Blurred vision: Low blood pressure will show signs of hearing loss, vision loss
Fatigue: Usually appearing in the morning, patients often feel mentally tired. Fatigue is often associated with nervous system dysfunction due to excessive muscle contraction
Nausea: Cardiac arrhythmia, rapid, shallow breathing: Low blood pressure leads to a lack of oxygen in the body, causing the heart and lungs to work harder to compensate for the shortfall that causes tachycardia and rapid breathing.
4. Solutions for patients with high blood pressure and low blood pressure
Change and adjust eating, nutritional and living habits:
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Increase foods rich in calcium, potassium and multivitamins contained in meat, fish, eggs and milk, green vegetables, fresh fruits
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Maintain a healthy, moderate weight. Obesity is also a direct cause of high blood pressure.
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Cut sodium by have a morderated seasoning food, eat too salty is not recommended
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Maintain exercise (at least 20-30 minutes) per day
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Cut down on alcohol consumption
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Minimize the consumption of foods containing a lot of fat, animal fat, fried foods because they will increase cholesterol levels, leading to atherosclerosis and causing detrmental effects to the body.
References:
High blood pressure. American Heart Association (AHA), từ: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
Việt, N. Q. Huyết áp là gì? Truy cập vào ngày 12/7/2023 từ: https://www.vinmec.com/vi/tin-tuc/thong-tin-suc-khoe/huyet-ap-la-gi/
Vân, D.N .(2023). HUYẾT ÁP LÀ GÌ? HUYẾT ÁP THAY ĐỔI ẢNH HƯỞNG THẾ NÀO TỚI SỨC KHỎE. Truy cập vào ngày 12/7/2023 từ: https://shorturl.at/bklSX
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