Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. Your blood pressure naturally goes up and down throughout the day. But if your blood pressure stays up, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension.
Having high blood pressure should not be ignored. It causes damage to your blood vessel walls that gets worse over time. This increases your risk for heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.
Blood pressure readings have two numbers.
- The first number is the systolic pressure (top number). This is the force of blood on the artery walls as your heart pumps.
- The second number is the diastolic pressure (bottom number). This is the force of blood on the artery walls between heartbeats.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure, book at visit and we will arrange for testing, discuss your options, and work with you to identify an achievable, target blood pressure.
How to manage your blood pressure
- lifestyle changes can lower blood pressure, such as eating better, being active, and losing weight.
- check your blood pressure at home to continually measure progress against your goals
- Some medicines including medications for asthma and colds, can cause your blood pressure to go up.
- Stress and lack of sleep can affect blood pressure. Take time to relax.
- Some medicines, a severe allergic reaction, an infection or dehydration can cause low blood pressure.
When should you call your doctor?
If you don’t know your blood pressure readings, contact us to book an appointment. Your blood pressure should be checked at least once a year by a medical professional.
One high or low blood pressure reading by itself may not mean you need to call for help. If you take your blood pressure and it is out of the normal range, wait a few minutes and take it again.
- Your blood pressure measures higher than your doctor recommends at least 2 times. That means the top number is higher or the bottom number is higher, or both.
- You think you may be having side effects from your blood pressure medicine.
Seek immediate medical care if:
- Your blood pressure is much higher than normal (such as 180/120 or higher).
- You think high blood pressure is causing symptoms like a severe headache, blurry vision or difficulty breathing
- You are dizzy or light-headed, or you feel like you may faint.
Call 9-1-1 anytime you think you may need emergency care, for example passing out (lost consciousness).