How
does high/low blood pressure arise?
The
level of blood pressure is determined in a part
of the brain, the so called circulatory centre,
and adapted to the respecive situation by way of
feedback via the nervous system. To adjust the
bood pressure, the strength and frequency of the
heart (pulse), as well as the width of
circulatory blood vessel walls. The level of
arterial blood pressure changes periodically
during the heart activity: During the "blood
ejection" (systole) the value is maximal
(systolic blood pressure value), at the end of
the heart's "rest period" (diastole) minimal
(diastolic blood pressure value). The blood
pressure values must lie within certain normal
ranges in order to prevent particular diseases.
Blood
pressure is too high if at rest, the diastolic
pressure is above 90 mmHg and/or the systolic
blood pressure is over 140 mmHg. In this
case, please consult your doctor. Log term
values at this level endanger your health due
to the associated advancing damage to the
blood vessels in your body.
With
blood pressure values that are too low, i.e.
systolic values under 100 mmHg and/or
diastolic values under 60 mmHg, likewise,
please consult your doctor. Eve. with normal
blood pressure values, a regular self check
with your blood pressure monitor is
recommended. In this way you can detect
possible changes in your values early and
react appropriately.
If
you are undergoing medical treatment to
control your blood pressure, please keep a
record of the level of your blood pressure by
carrying out regular self measurements at
specific times of the day. Show these values
to your doctor. Never use the results of your
measurements to alter independently the drug
doses prescribed by your doctor.
Table
for classifying blood pressure values (units
mmHg) according to the World Health Organisation
(WHO)
Range
systolic
blood pressure
diastolic
blood pressure
Hypotension
lower
than 100
lower
than 60
Normal
range
between
100 and
140
between
60 and
90
Mild
hypertension
between
140 and
160
between
90 and
100
Moderate
hypertension
between
160 and
180
between
100 and
110
Severe
hypertension
higher
than 180
higher
than 110
What can be done, if regular increased /
low values are obtained?
1. Primarily, please consult your doctor.
2. These are measres which you can take, not only for reducing a
medically established high
blood pressure, but also for preveintion. These measures are part
of your general way of
life:
A) Eating Habits
• Strive for normal weight
corresponding to your age. Reduce
overweight!
• Avoid excessive consumtion of common salt!
• Avoid fatty foods!
B) Previous Illnesses
• Follow consistently any medica instructinos for treating
previous illness such as diabetes
(diabetes mellitus), fat metabolism disorder, gout.
C) Habits
• Give
up smoking completely!
• Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol!
• Restrict your caffeine consumption (coffee)!
D) Physical Constitution
• After preliminary medical examination, do regular sport.
• Choose sports which require stamina and avoid those which require
strengh.
• Avoid reaching the limit of your performance.
• With previous illnesses and/or an age of over 40 years, please
consult your doctor
before beginning your sporting activities. he will advise your
regarding the type and
extent of types of sport that are possible for you.
How
does high/low blood pressure arise?
