What is Considered High Blood Pressure

A hectic lifestyle has left people vulnerable to life-threatening conditions like high blood pressure, which could be avoided by following a healthy life. Health awareness has become more essential than before as we are becoming more prone to health hazards and health education has become necessary. A blood pressure level that complicates a normal lifestyle and intervenes in the day-to-day activities of a person is considered high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Definition
The human body systems run on blood and so it is often called the fuel for a living body. The pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries that rise and fall with the heartbeat is regarded as blood pressure. Blood pressure level should be maintained as it is important for functions related to the heart. Blood pressure enables a regular supply of oxygen to the heart and it is done by applying pressure to the blood vessels. Normal blood pressure is a sign of a good health.

The blood pressure rises, when the heart beats and pumps the blood onto the arteries, and falls, as the heart relaxes between the beats. There is always a certain amount of pressure on the arteries even when the heart relaxes. A blood pressure check-up all about checking pressure and checking whether it is high or low. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg is considered as normal, and a higher reading is considered as high blood pressure. A reading lower than 120/80 mm Hg is considered as low blood pressure level.

Blood Pressure Levels Explained
The level of blood pressure is considered high with a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. There are two types of blood pressure which is considered while measuring blood pressure levels. They are called the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure. High blood pressure is commonly prevalent in two-thirds of all the people over the age of 65. People are considered to be suffering from pre-high blood pressure or pre-hypertension if the pressure remains between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg. Those who are in this condition have a very high chance of developing high blood pressure in the near future.

Systolic High Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure exerted by blood on the arteries as the heart beats. It appear at the top in a blood pressure reading. A systolic high blood pressure is considered high if it is at 140 mm Hg and higher. A systolic high blood pressure is the most common form of high blood pressure, and increases with the age, while a diastolic high blood pressure increases till the age of 55 and declines after that. A high blood pressure reading for middle aged and older person is diagnosed better with a systolic pressure. A rise in systolic blood pressure is a sign of an increased probability of getting heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure.

Diastolic High Blood Pressure
Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure of blood on the arteries as the heart relaxes between the beats. It is the number at the bottom of a blood pressure reading. A diastolic high blood pressure is a condition that mostly affects people at a young age. High diastolic blood pressure is a condition that creates a great risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failures in young people. The diastolic pressure decreases as a person becomes older and a systolic blood pressure begins to rise which makes it more important as people come of age.

High blood pressure is therefore, the result of an unbalanced lifestyle and faulty eating habits. One must take utmost care to stay away from high blood pressure as it is the starting point of many health issues.