What does diastolic blood pressure measure

A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings. If your results fall into this category, stick with heart-healthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Elevated blood pressure is when readings consistently range from systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.

People with elevated blood pressure are likely to develop high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control the condition.

Hypertension Stage 1 is when blood pressure consistently ranges from systolic or mm Hg diastolic. At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe lifestyle changes and may consider adding blood pressure medication based on your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ASCVD , such as heart attack or stroke. At this stage of high blood pressure, doctors are likely to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes.

This stage of high blood pressure requires medical attention. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately.

You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis. Call Your donation funds research, education and advocacy efforts that are saving lives every day. Thank you! Your blood pressure numbers and what they mean Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers:. Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure the first number as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over Diastole — this period of time when your heart relaxes between beats — is also the time that your coronary artery is able to supply blood to your heart.

Your blood pressure may be normal, high, or low. High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.

The American Heart Association describes the different blood pressure ranges for adults as:. Your doctor may diagnose high blood pressure if either your systolic or diastolic is high, or if both numbers are high. Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure need to be managed. According to the American College of Cardiology , almost half of the adults in the United States now fit the new definition of high blood pressure.

Not surprisingly, the risk factors for these two conditions are very different. Your gender affects your risk of high blood pressure. The American Heart Association states that men are at a higher risk of high blood pressure than women are until age But at 65 years and older, women are at higher risk than men.

Your risk is also higher if:. When your breathing is inadequate, your oxygen levels fall and your blood vessels constrict. This increases your blood pressure. When sleep apnea is persistent, this increased blood pressure may continue during the day when breathing is normal. Properly treating sleep apnea will help lower blood pressure.

Endocrine problems, neurological diseases, heart problems, heart failure , and anemia may also cause the condition. You may also be at risk for low blood pressure if you become dehydrated or take certain prescription drugs such as:. Low blood pressure can also be caused by a variety of heart, hormonal, or nervous system problems. These include:. Lifestyle changes are recommended as the first step in treating any stage of high blood pressure.

These changes may include:. If you are, your doctor might recommend stopping that drug, changing medications, or adjusting your dosage. However, lifestyle changes and medication adjustments may not be enough to bring your blood pressure numbers down.

If a medication is causing your low blood pressure, your doctor may change your dosage of that drug or stop your treatment with it. If your low blood pressure is caused by an infection, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection.

Proper management of the problem can help improve or limit episodes of low blood pressure. Unmanaged high blood pressure can lead to:.

A stroke can also kill you. Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life. Adults with diabetes, high blood pressure, or both have a higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those without these conditions.

Measuring your blood pressure is quick and painless. Talk with your health care team about regularly measuring your blood pressure at home, also called self-measured blood pressure SMBP monitoring.

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. 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. By taking action to lower your blood pressure, you can help protect yourself against heart disease and stroke, also sometimes called cardiovascular disease CVD. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link. High Blood Pressure. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes. Minus Related Pages.

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What is high blood pressure hypertension?