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Blood Pressure
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Author’s Bio: Saher B. Haider has a Pharmacy degree and is a freelance writer in the health and wellness industry. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her family. 

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the force with which your heart pumps blood into your blood vessels. Normal blood pressure is vital to ensuring that all your organs receive adequate blood supply to survive and carry out normal functions.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, also known as mmHg. A blood pressure reading contains two figures, which can be broken down into systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.

Systolic blood pressure:
Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure with which your heart pumps blood out.

Diastolic blood pressure:
Diastolic blood pressure reflects the blood pressure when your heart rests during beats.

A blood pressure reading of 110/70 or 110 by 70 means your systolic blood pressure is 110 while you have a diastolic pressure of 70.

Normal blood pressure reading ranges between 90/60 mmHg and 120/80 mmHg.

What is considered high blood pressure?

A blood pressure reading of 140/90mmHg or above is considered high blood pressure. 

High blood pressure

High blood pressure, HPB, or hypertension is when the force with which your heart pumps blood into your vessels remains consistently high. Hypertension increases your risk of getting heart diseases and stroke, which are the leading causes of death in the US.

Here’s what CDC data estimates about high blood pressure:

  • Approximately 45% of American adults have uncontrolled hypertension
  • In 2018, Hypertension alone caused up to half a million deaths in the US
  • High blood pressure caused around 494,873 deaths in the US in 2018

What causes high blood pressure?

Several factors contribute to causing high blood pressure, such as
  • Family history of hypertension
  • Consuming a diet high in salt
  • Smoking
  • Being overweight
  • Living a sedentary lifestyle
  • Long-term kidney disease
  • Hormonal disorders, such as adrenal and thyroid problems
  • Too much use of alcohol
  • Stress

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Step 1

Call or Book your online Doctor Visit

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Step 2

Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 3

If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy

Book Appointment

High blood pressure symptoms

High blood pressure is a silent health issue, and its symptoms are so vague that they may go unnoticed for years. However, severe cases of hypertension have some obvious symptoms, such as:
  • Severely throbbing and recurring headaches
  • Nosebleeds
  • Flushing
  • Dizziness
  • Visual problems
  • Chest pain
  • Blood in urine, also known as hematuria

While these symptoms only appear in severe hypertension, routine blood pressure monitoring can help in making an early diagnosis. Watch out for risk factors such as the family history of high blood pressure and heart diseases. Talk to your doctor about routine checkups for hypertension in your regular appointments and get yourself assessed at least twice a year.

How to lower high blood pressure

Your doctor will consider several factors to craft a treatment plan to lower your high blood pressure. It all starts with identifying the cause of your hypertension and its type. For instance, if you are suffering from primary hypertension, your doctor will recommend lifestyle modifications first to manage your blood pressure. If lifestyle changes don’t work or prove to be ineffective, your health care provider will then move to medications.

Likewise, in the case of secondary hypertension that is caused by underlying health issues, your doctor will devise a treatment plan targeted at fixing the condition first.

High blood pressure medication

There is no single treatment regimen that works for everyone with hypertension. Your doctor will figure which medication will suit you best at a given time. Likewise, what works for you might not work for someone else. During the course of treatment, your doctor might also make minor tweaks in your regimen and change your medications.

Commonly prescribed medications for hypertension are:

ACE inhibitors

Also known as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, these drugs lower blood pressure by preventing your body from producing a hormone that narrows your blood vessels. This allows the blood vessels to dilate so that blood can easily flow through. They are often prescribed to people under 55 years of age. Common ACE inhibitors are enalapril, lisinopril, perindopril, and ramipril.

Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs)

Like ACE inhibitors, ARBs also lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels, but through a different mechanism. ARBs block the effects of the chemical which narrows blood vessel so that the blood vessels can dilate, and blood can easily flow. These are often prescribed to people who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors. Commonly prescribed ARBs are candesartan, irbesartan, losartan, valsartan, and olmesartan.

Calcium channel blockers

These medications lower blood pressure by lowering cardiac output as well as by relaxing your blood vessels. These include amlodipine, felodipine, and nifedipine.

Diuretics

Also known as water pills, these drugs lower blood pressure by removing the excess amount of water and sodium from your body. Common examples of diuretics are furosemide, indapamide, and bendroflumethiazide.

Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers were once considered gold standard treatment for high blood pressure. These medications lower blood pressure by slowing down your heartbeat and pumping blood with less force. Because newer and better medications are now available, beta-blockers are now considered less effective than the rest. Common examples are atenolol and bisoprolol.

What is low blood pressure

Low blood pressure , also known as hypotension is when your blood pressure is at or below 90/60 mmHg. In healthy people, low blood pressure is not a serious problem and almost always resolves on its own. However, it can be a sign of an underlying health issue in the elderly.

In the absence of symptoms, low blood pressure is not a serious problem.

There are two types of low blood pressure:

Postural hypotension:

It is the sudden drop in blood pressure when you suddenly stand up after being in a sitting or lying down position. In healthy individuals, it’s not serious and recovers almost instantly. However, unmanaged postural hypotension can get serious in older persons as it can restrict blood supply to vital organs including heart and brain.

Neurally mediated hypotension:

It refers to a drop in blood pressure when someone stands for a long time.

Low blood pressure symptoms

The most apparent signs and symptoms of chronic low blood pressure are:
  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Dehydration
  • Blurred vision
  • Lack of concentration
  • Cold, pale skin
  • Rapid breathing
  • Tiredness
  • Depression

If your blood pressure drops once in a while and goes back to normal, then there’s nothing much to worry about. However, if you experience any faintness, lightheadedness, dehydration, and other low BP symptoms, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider. Maintain a record of your symptoms and activities when they occur, and make sure to share them with your doctor.

Low blood pressure treatment

Until and unless low blood pressure causes serious signs and symptoms, it’s not something to worry about. You can try different methods to raise your blood pressure and bring it back to normal. Ensure to consult with your health care provider before trying any of these remedies. 

  • Increase your salt intake. People with hypertension must limit their salt intake, but it’s the other way round for those with low blood pressure. Salt helps raise blood pressure but it must be used with caution and only after your doctor recommends it. 
  • Drink plenty of water. Not only does it help with hydration, but drinking water also helps normalize your blood pressure.
  • Medications that constrict your blood vessels can actually increase your blood pressure. One such drug is midodrine, which increases blood pressure by restricting your blood vessels from expanding. Talk to your health care provider whether you need medications for managing your blood pressure. 

Online Consultation for Blood Pressure

If you are facing or regularly experience any blood pressure symptoms, it’s best to get yourself assessed thoroughly. At Home Urgent Care provides telemedicine services so you can keep your health in check with our online doctor appointments. Book an appointment today with our primary health care provider and get your blood pressure prescription/medication available online.

Book an Appointment

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 1

Call or Book your online Doctor Visit

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 2

Talk to a doctor over the Phone/ Tablet

Online Doctor Appointment - At Home Urgent Care

Step 3

If needed pick up your medication at the pharmacy

Book Appointment

References:

  1. American Heart Association. “The Facts About High Blood Pressure.” November 30, 2017. January 15, 2021.
  2. American Heart Association. “Understanding Blood Pressure Readings.” January 15, 2021.
  3. NHS. “What is blood pressure?” September 17, 2019. January 15, 2021.
  4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Facts About Hypertension.” September 08, 2020. January 15, 2021.
  5. WebMD. “Causes of High Blood Pressure.” January 15, 2021.
  6. Health line. “Everything You Need to Know About High Blood Pressure (Hypertension).” June 17, 2020. January 15, 2021.
  7. NHS. “Treatment – High blood pressure (hypertension).” October 23, 2019. January 15, 2021.
  8. American Heart Association. “Low Blood Pressure – When Blood Pressure Is Too Low”. October 31, 2016. January 15, 2021.