Blood pressure is the force with which flowing blood presses against the walls of blood vessels. What blood pressure is normal? What raises them and what lowers them? Why is blood pressure highest in the morning? It is worth knowing the answers to these questions.

Blood pressureshould be measured regularly by everyone.Bloodflows in the vascular system underpressure , just like water in the mains. However, unlike rigid water pipes , blood vesselsare flexible and muscular. They can contract and expand, thus regulating blood pressure. The higher pressure is in the tightly muscled, springy arteries, and the lower in the flaccid veins. We measure the former because it is of great importance for he alth.

Does blood pressure fluctuate throughout the day? When is it the highest?

Blood pressure is closely related to the daily rhythm of human sleep and wakefulness, therefore it changes throughout the day: it is higher during the day, and lower at night. It reaches the highest values ​​in the morning (between 6 and 12), when the body "starts" after a night of rest, and we undertake our daily activities. This is a dangerous moment for the cardiovascular system, as the pressure rises sharply. According to doctors' observations, it is in the morning hours that heart attacks and strokes occur most frequently. So, after waking up, let's try to calmly enter the new day, without the rush and stress that increase the morning pressure surge. It should go down at night. The lack of physiological pressure drop during sleep increases the risk of cardiovascular complications.

How often should you check your blood pressure?

The probability that we will have hypertension in the future is as high as 90 percent. So let's measure the pressure regularly. If we are he althy, we should do it at least once a year. Let's also check its values ​​when there are problems with the circulatory system, e.g. dizziness, chest pains, feeling of impending fainting. People with hypertension should measure their blood pressure as recommended by their doctor (usually in the morning and in the evening, 3-4 times a week).

On which shoulder should the blood pressure be measured?

On the one it is onhigher. The acceptable difference in blood pressure on the individual arms is 10 mm Hg. If it is higher, it may indicate a narrowing of the subclavian artery or aortic aneurysm.

Read also: How to measure blood pressure correctly?

What does upper and lower pressure mean?

The pressure value is defined by two numbers. The first is the systolic blood pressure, commonly known as the upper pressure. It tells you about the blood pressure in the arteries during the contraction of the heart and the ejection of blood into the main artery - the aorta. The second number is the diastolic pressure, also known as the lower pressure, recorded by measuring devices as the heart relaxes and fills with blood. Regardless of whether the norm is exceeded by both values ​​or only one of them, such a situation is considered to be hypertension.

What pressure values ​​are correct? When does the disease begin?

The optimal, he althiest for a man is blood pressure lower than 120/80 mm Hg. The values ​​of 120-129 / 80-84 mmHg are normal pressure, and 130-139 / 85-89 mmHg is considered normal high. People who suffer from the latter should be more often monitored for the development of arterial hypertension, because from 140/90 mm Hg we can diagnose hypertension.

Are the pressure spikes disturbing?

Yes, pressure surges should be disturbing, because they can be a sign of, for example, coronary heart disease, not yet visible on the ECG. Particularly dangerous is a hypertensive crisis defined as a sudden, unexpected and large increase in blood pressure (systolic blood pressure can then reach 240 mm Hg, and diastolic 200 mm Hg). It can result in circulatory and respiratory failure, infarction, and aortic dissection. Therefore, in the event of a large pressure jump, immediate medical attention is needed.

What might the effects of high blood pressure be?

Hypertension accelerates the development of atherosclerosis, increases the risk of coronary artery disease, hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke, heart attack, left ventricular hypertrophy, aortic and peripheral arterial aneurysms. In addition, it leads to kidney failure and damages the retina of the eye. These complications occur after years of untreated or poorly treated high blood pressure, and the changes it causes in the cardiovascular system, kidneys and eyes are often irreversible. That is why the prevention and proper treatment of this disease is so important.

Is low pressure also dangerous?

Hypotension, or arterial hypotension, may be considered when its value does not exceed 100/70 mm Hg in men and 90/60 mm Hg in women. In fact, there are no consequences for your he alth, although it worsens your well-being. There's no need toso worry about it, unless it causes fainting, dizziness, spots in front of your eyes. Then go to the doctor.

How does s alt affect blood pressure?

S alt is the richest source of sodium chloride, which retains water in the body, increases the amount of blood flowing in the blood vessels and the smooth muscle tone of the arteries, which results in an increase in blood pressure. S alt is dangerous because it is present in almost all products, even in spices and sweet cakes. Therefore, it is best not to s alt the food at all, because there is a lot of s alt in processed food, and we should not eat more than 4-5 g per day (a flat teaspoon).

What, apart from s alt, raises blood pressure?

First of all, chronic stress, both open, conscious, related to emotions, and hidden, related to neurosis or anxiety disorders. Other factors that increase blood pressure include drinking too much alcohol and smoking. Each cigarette raises blood pressure and damages blood vessels. Another reason for high blood pressure may be obesity, drinking large amounts of highly sweetened carbonated drinks. Its value is not influenced by coffee, if we drink it every day, as well as atmospheric pressure.

How to lower or raise the pressure yourself?

We can lower the blood pressure to some extent by changing our lifestyle and diet. First of all, let's stop smoking, limit s alt consumption, and avoid fatty, high-calorie foods and sweets. Let's eat a lot of vegetables and fruits. Many of them are rich sources of potassium, which lowers blood pressure as it increases the renal excretion of sodium. Let us not abuse alcohol. Systematic exercise (30-45 minutes a day, 7 times a week) is an invaluable ally in the fight against high blood pressure, which not only lowers it, but also improves the condition of the cardiovascular system. When low pressure bothers us, we can quickly raise it by eating a s alted tomato or gulping down 2 glasses of water. The latter method increases blood pressure by 20 mmHg in 20 minutes!

Does low pressure protect against overpressure?

No. As you age, the arteries lose their elasticity, their diameter shrinks, and the blood begins to flow with greater pressure. A person who was low blood pressure in his youth may therefore have hypertension in adulthood.

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Cardiology