What should be your optimum level of Blood Pressure?

 

Blood pressure is a vital sign that provides information about your cardiovascular health. It is an important metric that helps determine your heart health. In today's world, when stress and tension are our beloved partners in every aspect of life, monitoring your blood pressure regularly and taking steps to keep it in check need meticulous care and concern.  

There is a lot of medical literature regarding the optimum blood pressure for a healthy person. However, for the common person, it is still a burning question—“Aakhir ek swatch insaan ka blood pressure kitna hona chahiye?” 

Before discussing this topic in greater detail, let us break down this question into "blood pressure” and “kitna hona chahiye.” First, we will know what blood pressure is, and then we will delve deeper to understand why the metric “kitna hona chahiye?” is so important.

What is Blood Pressure?

Our body consists of an intricate network of veins, arteries, and blood vessels, with the heart at its centre. This creates a circulatory system, which is responsible for carrying blood to and from throughout the body, delivering nutrients, and removing waste products. 

Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by the flowing blood, pumped by the heart, on the walls of the arteries. It is of two types: Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure. Systolic Blood Pressure indicates the pressure on the walls of your arteries. At the same time, the heartbeats and diastolic blood pressure measure the pressure on your arteries while resting between two consecutive beats.

Factors affecting your blood pressure:

Various external and internal factors can influence your blood pressure and cause it to exceed or exceed the average value. Some of these are as given below:

1. Age: Blood pressure tends to increase with age, so keeping a record of how much your blood pressure is regularly is very important once you reach the age of fifty-five. As per the Mayo Clinic, a reputed US-based medical website, after the age of 50, measuring blood pressure twice a day is significant. 
2. Diet: With a drastic change in our lifestyle and standard of living, our food habits have also undergone a paradigm shift. Sometimes, we eat foods laden with sugar and unhealthy fats, which ultimately end up as plaque inside the arteries. This, in turn, restricts the flow of blood, causing blood pressure to increase.
3. Physical Activity: Exercise keeps your cardiovascular health in check and gives way to a healthy heart and a fit body.
4. Weight: Blood pressure is also influenced to a great extent by weight. Being overweight can make you more prone to hypertension.
5. Stress: Chronic stress can contribute to hypertension.

How much should your optimum blood pressure be? 

Now, let us come to the part where we will try to find out the answer to the second part of our question—“Kitna hona Chahiye?”. A person's blood pressure varies with age and gender. Moreover, climatic conditions also play a crucial role in determining one's normal blood pressure. 

A healthy blood pressure reading for women aged 18-39 is around 110/68 mm Hg, while men in the same age group typically have a slightly higher average of 119/70 mm Hg. As individuals transition into middle age (40-59 years), women's ideal blood pressure increases to approximately 122/74 mm Hg, compared to men's 124/77 mm Hg. 

Interestingly, for those aged 60 and above, women’s blood pressure averages rise to 139/68 mm Hg, contrasting with men’s average of 133/69 mm Hg. These differences highlight the importance of tailored approaches to managing blood pressure, taking into account both age and gender to promote optimal cardiovascular health.

A happy heart, a healthy body, and a sound mind can help people live longer without significant complications, and maintaining blood pressure can help support overall health. A higher blood pressure level comes with the risk of heart disease, kidney failure, and even, in some cases, brain haemorrhage. 

Therefore, monitoring and managing your blood pressure is crucial but doesn't require drastic changes. A balanced diet, adequate sleep, stress management, and a disciplined lifestyle can lead to a longer, healthier life, free from major health concerns. This knowledge should inspire you to make positive changes in your life. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Is Hypertension irreversible?

High blood pressure is not a life sentence. It's a condition that can be managed and even reversed with the right approach. By adopting a balanced diet, a disciplined lifestyle, and regular physical activity, you can significantly improve your blood pressure levels. This knowledge should provide you with a sense of relief and empowerment.

Can smoking and alcohol consumption lead to higher levels of Blood Pressure?

Yes, both smoking and excessive alcoholism can lead to increased levels of Blood Pressure. It has been medically proven that excessive inhalation of nicotine can cause blood pressure to shoot high. Moreover, nicotine is known to cause the arteries to collapse, leading to a coronary blockage, which may require surgical insertion of stents. Alcohol in minimal amounts may be beneficial to the heart. Still, when consumed in excess amounts, it may interfere with the normal functions of organs like the liver, kidneys and spleen. Alcohol also triggers the adrenaline hormone, the combined effect of which ultimately leads to an increase in blood pressure to alarming levels.

Can High Blood Pressure be fatal?

High blood pressure may pose a life-threatening risk if not managed properly. Apart from the risk of coronary thrombosis (heart attack), high BP can cause damage to your kidneys, tearing apart the nephrons, cause coronary artery blockage, and other serious health issues, including liver damage and stroke in the eyes. Which are extremely fatal conditions. However, proper medication, diet, and a disciplined lifestyle will ensure that you live a long and healthy life even with considerably high blood pressure levels.

What are the symptoms of High Blood pressure?

Even in relatively calm weather, profuse sweating, confusion, mild chest pain, and eye redness are common blood pressure symptoms. If such conditions persist for over a week, consult your cardiologist to manage symptoms.

What is the ideal Blood Pressure Number?

BP varies with age, gender, genetics, and various other factors, but as a rule of thumb, we may consider a count of 110-125 systolic/ 75-77 diastolic as a normal range of BP. This means that a reading of 110-125 for the top number (systolic) and 75-77 for the bottom number (diastolic) is generally considered normal. However, this is not a medical reference range, and you may consider consulting your cardiologist if there is a large deviation from these numbers.