What is blood pressure?
Blood Pressure is a measurement of pressure of blood in the vessels as it is pumped around the body by the heart. Measuring blood pressure is checking how hard the blood is pushing against the walls of the arteries. It is normal for our blood pressure to change as it meets our bodies needs but if the blood pressure remains high, this can lead to problems.
How can you check your blood pressure?
The good news is that it’s so quick and easy to get your blood pressure checked regularly. Just pop into your local WholeLife Pharmacy and a friendly pharmacist will check your blood pressure by placing a cuff around the top of your arm.The cuff will inflate and tighten gently around the arm, then slowly deflate whilst measuring the vibrations against the artery wall to reveal your blood pressure.
Low blood pressure
Low blood pressure is more commonly seen in women. Usually having low blood pressure is not a cause for concern. The main risk is sometimes your blood pressure can drop to a point where you may feel dizzy or even faint. However, in general having a lower blood pressure lowers your risk in having a stroke or heart disease.
High blood pressure
High blood pressure; also known as hypertension, occurs when the blood pumping through the arteries meets resistance due to the narrowing of the arteries. Over the long term, this increased pressure can cause health issues, including heart disease.
High blood pressure is quite common in today’s society due to an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity. As you often cannot feel the symptoms of high blood pressure, regular blood pressure readings can help you notice any changes.
Treatments for high blood pressure
Treatment includes both prescription medication from your doctor and healthy lifestyle changes. If the condition isn’t addressed it could lead to severe health issues including stroke and heart attack.
5 ways to naturally lower blood pressure:
- Developing a healthy diet
- Increasing physical activity
- Reaching a healthy weight
- Managing stress
- Eliminating tobacco and limiting alcohol consumption
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