Health Savvy


Jun 03 2007

What is Average Blood Pressure and When should you Worry?

Published by Jennifer at 4:09 pm under Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure numbers can tell your doctor a lot about your overall health, particularly when it comes to your heart and cardiovascular system. An average blood pressure will indicate that your cardiovascular system is functioning properly and that your many blood vessels throughout your body are strong and healthy. A higher than average blood pressure number can be a sign that your blood vessels are experiencing some strain and even some damage as a result of the blood moving through them. High blood pressure can put you at higher risk for problems later in life, like a greater likelihood of a heart attack, stroke or heart and kidney disease. Because of this, it is very important for you to be aware of what an average blood pressure is so that you can alert your doctor to any deviations from the norm that could indicate a potential problem.

What is an Average Blood Pressure?

Your blood pressure is measured by two different numbers. The top number, known as the systolic pressure, measures the pressure of the blood in the vessels when the heart is beating. The bottom number, or the diastolic pressure, evaluates the pressure of the blood when the heart is at rest. An average systolic blood pressure is usually around 120.  Anything that is over 130 is considered borderline high, and 140 or more is high. The average diastolic blood pressure is 80, and anything above 90 is considered high. These two numbers will most likely correlate to one another, meaning that if the systolic pressure goes up, the diastolic pressure will rise as well. However, there are some instances where this is not the case, and the systolic will rise alone. This situation is most often seen in elderly patients, and is a result of blood vessels becoming stiff in the aging process.

If you have an average blood pressure that is close to 120/80 at your doctor’s office, chances are that you will only need to have your blood pressure evaluated once or twice a year. However, if that average blood pressure number should rise, your doctor will probably want you to have more frequent blood pressure monitoring done, both at the office and from your own home. There are a number of home monitors that you can choose from for this purpose. If your average blood pressure continues to run on the high side, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes or medication to keep those numbers in check. There are also a number of things that you can do to help ensure that your average blood pressure numbers stay within the normal range, including a healthy diet, daily exercise and kicking habits like smoking.

Your average blood pressure can indicate much about your overall health. That is why it is so important to have regular blood pressure readings taken and to talk to your doctor if you see those numbers go on the rise.

2 Responses to “What is Average Blood Pressure and When should you Worry?”

  1. Richard Tayloron 08 Dec 2007 at 10:33 am

    This blood pressure stuff is a bunch of hoohey, what is avg. for me is not avg for you….

    What is avg????? to find avg , you would have to take your blood press. every hour on the hour for 24hr. just to find yours, then you still might be off. there are things like Stress, Moods, What you have been doing that day or at that time you took it, then how about age, Are you in good shape, Did you just eat, What you just ate, Have you had heart problems in the past, So what is avg????? That is just like LDL cholesteral What is to high?? Its a hoax brought to you with love from the BIG pharmaca Co. that make 3 to 5 Billion a year to keep you sick with the help of your friendly Doctor so they will not have to go out of busness, their busness is to keep you sick!!!! Not to cure you…..

  2. TOM PARKERon 23 Jun 2008 at 7:02 pm

    EXACTLEY!!
    WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF A PIECE OF STRING?
    i dare say that there are a few sincere family doctors left but they are a dying breed and even they are dictated to by the pharma drug companies to force their brand of !healing medicine upon the largely unsuspecting nhs patients and then be told that you are dying from the side effects of the aforesaid concoctions. thank heavens for alternative medicine who seem to be suffering from unceasing petty legislation in an attempt to throttle the very life from this brigade of dogooders and all the time the very infrastructure of this one time great nation of o deteriates…………….think id better take another bp tablet supplied by some obscure spanish pharma!!i can feel the men in black breathing down my neck so thank you mr richard taylor 100% spot on

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