Blood Pressure
The blood pressure (BP) typically has 2 readings, a systolic reading which marks the peak blood pressure within the artery when the heart contracts, and a diastolic reading which marks the trough blood pressure within the artery when the heart relaxes before the next beat. Both readings are important in categorisation, and category limits apply to all irrespective of age and gender.
| Category | Systolic BP (mmHg) | Diastolic BP (mmHg) (Heart muscle relax) |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Below 130 | Below 80 |
| High Normal | Between 130 to 139 | Between 80 to 89 |
| Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) |
140 and above | 90 & Above |
If your blood pressure is in the High Normal category, it is important to focus on lifestyle change.
- Reduction of salt intake
- Regular exercise
- Management of stress
If blood pressure readings are in the hypertensive range, a 2nd reading taken at least 1 week apart is necessary to establish hypertension. Medication may be instituted if the readings remain high despite lifestyle measures described above.
In some instances, blood pressure readings may be on the low side i.e. systolic < 100 and/or diastolic < 60. Whilst this is not a diseased state, persistently low blood pressures may result in occasional giddiness.
The use of a home BP monitoring set is highly useful for monitoring blood pressure. We encourage a record of BP readings using either readily available health apps or manual records. Your doctor can then reliably depend on the blood pressure trend to guide your treatment.