Today’s blog is born of a recent medical experience I thought I’d share. Due to circumstances beyond their control, my appointment with my healthcare provider was running over an hour late. That in itself stressed me out along with an exuberant, overly chatty medical assistant delivering a lengthy soliloquy about her entire life as I waited. I felt my blood pressure rising!
STRESS
When my practitioner finally entered the room an hour late, she was exceedingly kind and apologetic. Being in the medical field, I understand sometimes emergent situations arise and take priority causing delays. I was by no means angry, yet I was naturally stressed about the delay. Who wouldn’t be? I didn’t necessarily have anywhere else to be, I was just irritated and tired of waiting.
ON THE RISE
When Chatty Cathy (my medical assistant) took my blood pressure, it was remarkably high. Gee, I wonder why. I was certain it was an error as I have never had high blood pressure in the past. It was decided to take it in the other arm. It was slightly lower but not much. It was then I decided I needed a better understanding of this invisible thing called blood pressure.
WHATS WHAT?
When you get your blood pressure numbers, there are two of them. The top number is your systolic blood pressure. The bottom one is called your diastolic blood pressure.
SYSTOLIC (TOP NUMBER)
WebMD explains when your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on blood vessels, and that’s your systolic blood pressure. Here is how to understand your systolic blood pressure number:
- Normal: Below 120
- Elevated: 120-129
- Stage 1 high blood pressure (also called hypertension) 130-139
- Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or more
- Hypertensive crisis: 180 or more. Call 911
DIASTOLIC (BOTTOM NUMBER)
The bottom reading is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen. This is what your diastolic blood pressure means:
- Normal: Lower that 80
- Stage 1 hypertension: 80-89
- Stage 2 hypertension: 90 or more
- Hypertensive crisis” 120 or more. Call 911
If your blood pressure is within normal range, continue with your healthy diet and active lifestyle. If it is above normal range, you and your provider may consider medication, treatments, and lifestyle changes. This might entail cutting back on sodium, getting more exercise, losing weight, eating a healthier diet and limiting alcohol.
AFOREMENTIONED
If the aforementioned modifications sound like no fun, it is less fun to endure the damage to your arteries, heart, brain, kidneys and eyes if you were to suffer the effects of a stroke or heart attack.
HDD
Although ultrasound can’t help you with blood pressure issues, it can help with assisting your provider by seeing what lies beneath the surface of your skin, for instance your heart. If diagnostic ultrasound is indicated, call us at 505-350-3397.