Prehypertension

February 18th, 2012 | perito

Important to Monitoring Our Blood Pressure

Monitoring our blood pressure

Prehypertension. Why important to monitor our blood pressure at home? Then the nurse takes our blood pressure reading and temperature. If you have ever been told by the doctor that you have prehypertension or hypertension during your checkup, it is even more important to control your blood pressure at home.

Why? The stakes are high. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, the total disability and even death.

Prehypertension and hypertension ranges

Systolic and diastolic numbers measured during a blood pressure reading indicates if the blood has difficulty flowing through his veins. When blood flow is impaired, forcing the heart to work harder to pump blood. Systolic pressure measures the force of the flow of blood against artery walls during a heartbeat. The diastolic pressure measures the force between beats when the heart is at rest.

Both prehypertension and hypertension indicate that blood pressure is always above the normal range. Prehypertension is defined as a systolic pressure index between 120 and 139 and a rate of between 80 and 89 diastolic. Consistent systolic readings of 160 or above or diastolic readings of 100 or more are considered stage 2 hypertension.

You must track, but their readings are within the normal range for review? If you come from a family who have high blood pressure, or you are African American, is added risk.

I know that if I measure too soon (less than one hour) after eating, my blood pressure increases. Others experience “masked” hypertension, in which the pressure actually decreases during the visit with the doctor. Control their own pressure and record the results, so that you can help the doctor identify what is abnormal for you.

Other factors that affect the readings

• Stress
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Lack of sleep
• Excess weight, especially obesity
• Some medications (be sure to discuss this with your doctor)
• Lack of exercise (or measure too soon after finishing exercise)
• Diet (The DASH diet is the diet studied for the prevention and control of high blood pressure)

If you take medication and see their pressure rise and stay elevated for a period, contact your doctor. Some medications can increase your blood pressure. Stay on top of their own care – controlling your blood pressure.