Blood Pressure Checks During Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, you should have your blood pressure checked on a regular basis, even if it is not high.
Watching your blood pressure while you are pregnant reduces your risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. This can lead to a serious condition called pre-eclampsia where there is a problem with the placenta .
Causes Of High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is of 2 types and as such the causes differ from each other
1. Primary Hypertension
It is even known as essential hypertension and it occurs over a period with no particular cause. The majority of people have this kind of high blood pressure. These causes include
- Genes, few people by birth are prone to this and it could be due to genetic abnormalities or gene mutations.
- Physical changes, if the body goes through some changes a person may start to experience this condition.
- The environment and an unhealthy lifestyle too can lead to this condition. Obesity is one result of an unhealthy lifestyle.
2. Secondary Hypertension
- Problems of the adrenal gland
- Few types of endocrine tumors
What Causes High Blood Pressure
There is no one specific cause of high blood pressure, but there are a number of things that can increase your chances of developing it, including:
- Family history
- Eating patterns
- Alcohol intake
- Weight
- Physical activity and exercise levels.
Your blood pressure can also go up temporarily due to stress, your emotional state, recent physical activity, caffeine consumption or even talking.
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How Much Fluid Do I Need
Your body needs different amounts of water before, during, and after exercise.
- Before exercise, you should drink one cup of water at least four hours before you start exercising.
- During exercise, you should drink 120-150 ml of water every 10-15 minutes.
- After exercise, you should drink enough water to double the amount of water your body lost during exercise.
Lowering Systolic Blood Pressure More May Cut Health Risks
One major study found that lowering systolic blood pressure to well below the commonly recommended level also greatly lowered the number of cardiovascular events and deaths among people at least 50 years old with high blood pressure.
When study participants achieved a systolic blood pressure target of 120 mmHg compared to the higher target of 140 mmHg recommended for most people, and 150 for people over 60 issues such as heart attack, stroke and heart failure were reduced by almost one-third, and the risk of death by almost one-fourth.
“That’s important information, because more lives may be saved and more deaths may be prevented if we maintain lower blood pressure in certain patients,” says Lynne Braun, NP, PhD, a nurse practitioner at the Rush Heart Center for Women.
Braun cautions, however, that your personal blood pressure target depends on a variety of things, including your current blood pressure, lifestyle, risk factors, other medications you are taking and your age. “Every person has to be evaluated as an individual,” she says. “Realistically, we can’t get everybody down to 120, and trying to do so may create unintended problems.”
It can be dangerous, for instance, to keep an older person on medications that have unsafe side effects, such as diuretics , which can cause dehydration and dizziness in older adults.
And there can be other issues involved with taking multiple medications, such as cost and compliance.
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Does This Really Matter If Youve Finally Got Low Blood Pressure
Heart rhythm problems that affect the upper heart chamber can put you at an increased risk for stroke, heart failure or death. Heres why:
If youre diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm, you may need to take blood-thinning medications, plus one of the treatments above, to decrease your risk of stroke. Your doctor can help you get the right care to keep everything steady and stable so the only time your heart is racing is while youre watching Stranger Things.
What Can I Do To Prevent Or Manage High Blood Pressure
Many people with high blood pressure can lower their blood pressure into a healthy range or keep their numbers in a healthy range by making lifestyle changes. Talk with your health care team about
- Getting at least 150 minutes of physical activity each week
- Not smoking
- Managing stress
Learn more about ways to manage and prevent high blood pressure.
In addition to making positive lifestyle changes, some people with high blood pressure need to take medicine to manage their blood pressure. Learn more about medicines for high blood pressure.
Talk with your health care team right away if you think you have high blood pressure or if youve been told you have high blood pressure but do not have it under control.
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Common Causes Of High Blood Pressure Spikes
Some people with high blood pressure will experience sharp rises in their blood pressure. These spikes, which typically last only a short period of time, are also known as sudden high blood pressure. These are some possible causes:
- Caffeine
- Certain medications or combinations of medications
- Chronic kidney disease
Resting Heart Rate: 3 Surprising Things That Affect It
Your resting heart rate is not a static number. It changes over time and day-to-day depending on your health, lifestyle, and environmental conditions.
These changes to your resting heart rate provide a peek into what is going on with your body. These three surprising things that alter your resting heart rate provide insight into how changes in your health affect this easily measured biometric.
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Regular Blood Pressure Checks For Over Over 40’s
The only way to find out whether you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Ask your GP when you are next due for yours to be checked.
Blood pressure checks are usually available on request at most GP surgeries and health clinics. Some surgeries have home monitoring devices available, which you may be able to use at the time of blood pressure medication start up or change. Many also have a policy of arranging regular checks for you.
Adults who are over 40 and have not been diagnosed with high blood pressure should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years. However, your blood pressure should ideally be checked more frequently, particularly if you have any contributory risk factors.
Beyond Heart Rate To Heart Rate Variability
Measurement of the time intervals from one ventricular contraction to the next allows for calculation of more than just the absolute heart rate. The beat-to-beat variability in heart rate can be measured in the time and frequency domains, is a measure of parasympathetic and sympathetic function, and is referred to as heart rate variability . Low heart rate variability is associated with hypertension, CKD, and increased risk for all-cause mortality and ESKD . Low heart rate variability is modifiable. Physical therapy improved heart rate variability in dialysis patients and patients with after myocardial infarction . Finally, a small study of type 1 diabetic patients demonstrated an increase in heart rate variability with atenolol . Whether changes in heart rate variability related to physical activity and different antihypertensive regimens modify blood pressure and clinical outcomes is unknown.
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Heart Rate Blood Pressure And Chronic Kidney Disease
The issues of heart rate reduction and hypertension control are magnified in patients with CKD. Decreased renal function is associated with elevated heart rate, hypertension, and significantly increased risk for cardiovascular disease . In patients with CKD, elevated heart rate is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease . Among 2,531 subjects in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study, estimated GFR was associated with central pulse pressure on bivariate analyses, but was not retained as a predictor of central pulse pressure in multivariate models . Treatment of patients with CKD with beta-blockade has been evaluated in one large study, the African American Study of Kidney Disease . In AASK, total GFR decline was slower in both ramipril and amlodipine compared to metoprolol . The primary composite of a decline in GFR, ESKD or death was reduced in the ramipril arm compared to the metoprolol and amlodipine arms. No difference was observed in rates of cardiovascular mortality or cardiovascular events . Further research in CKD patients is needed to evaluate the impact of heart rate lowering, preferably with newer vasodilatory beta-blockers, on renal and cardiovascular events in this high-risk population.
Weird Things That Can Mess With Your Heartbeat
Learn the top triggers of heart palpitations, plus what to do about each one.
A few weeks ago I thought I was having a heart attack. My morning started out normal: I woke up at my usual hour, feeling what I thought was a little bit of tiredness. But as I went about my morning routine, things grew scary. I broke out in a cold sweat as I brushed my teeth. My skin turned white as paper. And then, scariest of all: my heart was pounding like crazy. As a health writer I know these arent textbook signs of a heart attack, but I also know that dangerous cardiovascular events in women can be more subtle than those in men.
Later that day I went to urgent care, but an EKG and blood tests showed nothing out of the ordinary. Turns out my heartbeat went haywire as a result of a side effect from a medication. The technical term for this: heart palpitations, which can be brought on by many things.
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When a person says theyre having heart palpitations theyre referring to a sensation of their heart beating differently. Or they may simply have an awareness of their heart beating, explains Shephal Doshi, MD, director of cardiac electrophysiology at Providence Saint Johns Health Center in Santa Monica, California.
Learn about some top triggers of palpitations, plus what to do about them.
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Myth: I Have High Blood Pressure And My Doctor Checks It For Me This Means I Dont Need To Check It At Home
Because blood pressure can fluctuate, home monitoring and recording of blood pressure readings can provide your healthcare provider with valuable information to determine whether you really have high blood pressure and, if you do, whether your treatment plan is working. Its important to take the readings at the same time each day, such as morning and evening, or as your healthcare professional recommends.
You Shouldn’t Ignore White Coat Hypertension
Some people experience white coat hypertension, when blood pressure is elevated in the doctor’s office but not in other settings. These patients need to monitor their blood pressure at home or wear an ambulatory blood pressure monitor that takes your blood pressure every 30 minutes for 24 hours.
While white coat hypertension was formerly considered simple nervousness, recent research suggests otherwise.
A study published in the journal Hypertension found that people with white coat hypertension are at a significantly greater risk for developing sustained high blood pressure than people who have normal blood pressure. One possible explanation is that people with white coat hypertension have a harder time managing stress and anxiety.
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About Heart And Vascular Institute
The UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute has long been a leader in cardiovascular care, with a rich history in clinical research and innovation. As one of the first heart transplant centers in the country and as the developer of one of the first heart-assist devices, UPMC has contributed to advancing the field of cardiovascular medicine.
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How Do You Calm A Fast Heartbeat
If you think youre having an attack, try these to get your heartbeat back to normal: Breathe deeply. It will help you relax until your palpitations pass. Splash your face with cold water. It stimulates a nerve that controls your heart rate. Dont panic. Stress and anxiety will make your palpitations worse.
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Whats The Difference Between Blood Pressure And Pulse
Blood pressure and pulse are two measurements that a doctor may use to monitor your heart and overall health. While theyre similar, they can each say very different things about whats happening in your body.
Pulse, also called heart rate, refers to the number of times your heart beats in one minute. Typical pulse measurements range from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Blood pressure is an estimate of the force your blood is exerting on your blood vessels. A typical value for blood pressure is 120/80. Doctors consider blood pressure to be elevated when its between 130 and 139 systolic over 80 to 89 diastolic .
If you have high blood pressure with a low pulse, it means your blood is putting increased pressure on your blood vessels, but your hearts beating fewer than 60 times per minute. Read on to learn more about what this combination means for your health.
First Misconception Is That High Blood Pressure Isn’t A Big Deal
Early on, you may not notice symptoms of high blood pressure, so you may not be too concerned. However, in the long run high blood pressure can kill you. Normally, your heart beats regularly, pumping blood through the vessels all over your body. As the blood is pushed by the heartbeat, the blood in turn pushes against the sides of your blood vessels. Blood vessels are flexible and can widen or constrict as needed to keep blood flowing well. For a variety of reasons, your blood may begin to push too hard against the blood vessels. This elevated blood pressure, which can cause your arteries to become stiff over time, is how problems begin.
High blood pressure can lead to damage of your blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and other organs in your body. Heart disease and stroke, both caused by high blood pressure, are the first and fifth leading causes of death in the U.S.
The scary thing about high blood pressure is that you may have it without even knowing it. That’s why doctors often call high blood pressure the “silent killer.” Health care professionals agree: High blood pressure is a big deal.
To understand the numbers, normal blood pressure is less than 120 over less than 80 elevated is 120-129 over less than 80 hypertension stage 1 is 130-139 or 80-89 and hypertension stage 2 is greater than 140 or greater than 90 .
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How Much Water Is Required To Drink In A Day
It depends on many factors and according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine sufficient daily fluid intake is
- Nearly 15.5 cups of fluids for men
- Nearly 11.5 cups of fluids for women
These suggestions constitute fluids from beverages, water, and food. Nearly 20% of everyday fluid intake normally comes from diet and the remaining from drinks.
Besides these recommendations one should keep in mind the BMI and also the activity one does give the body the correct amount of water.
Can Stress Cause High Blood Pressure
Stressand often how you cope with itcan make so many things worse, including your blood pressure.
A major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure stage 1 is defined as an upper or systolic blood pressure reading of 130-139 systolic millimeters of mercury and a lower or diastolic pressure reading of 80-89 mm Hg. Systolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart beats while pumping blood, and diastolic blood pressure is the pressure when your heart is at rest between beats. A blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg is considered normal.
Stage 2 is when blood pressure consistently ranges at 140/90 mm Hg or higher. This is when doctors are likely to suggest medication and lifestyle changes, according to the American Heart Association.
Untreated, high blood pressure can set the stage for heart attack, stroke, and other complications by damaging blood vessels throughout your body. Stress can have both direct and indirect effects on blood pressure levels, explains Vijay Nambi, MD, associate professor of medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston.
Here’s what you need to know about stress and how it affects your heart rate and blood pressure.
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