High blood pressure is increased pressure on the walls of blood vessels. This can happen for many reasons. If your cholesterol is high, your blood vessels may become narrowed or blocked. This can reduce the elasticity of the vessel walls (the ability of the vessel walls to expand or contract when pressure changes) and lead to high blood pressure.
Important blood pressure levels you need to know
When checking your blood pressure, it is important to know what level you are at so that you can take appropriate care of your health. If your blood pressure is below 120/80, it means that your blood pressure is at a normal level, which is very good for your heart and organs.
However, if the upper number (systolic) is between 120 and 129, while the lower number (diastolic) is still below 80, it is a sign that your blood pressure is starting to increase slightly, and you should pay more attention to your lifestyle.
When your blood pressure rises to 130/80 or higher, this is a sign that you have mild hypertension. At this point, you need to change your diet, exercise properly and monitor regularly. If the index continues to increase to 140/90 or higher, it shows that you are at a clear level of high blood pressure, and your doctor may prescribe medication to control it.
In serious cases, when blood pressure spikes to 180/120 or higher, you need to go to the hospital immediately because this is a dangerous condition. If not treated promptly, such high blood pressure can cause stroke, heart attack or kidney damage.
Monitoring blood pressure at home is not only simple but also brings many practical benefits for controlling cardiovascular health, especially for the elderly or those at high risk of blood pressure.
How to measure blood pressure correctly and effectively?
A blood pressure reading taken at a medical facility every three months does not fully reflect the blood pressure status in daily life. Therefore, measuring blood pressure at home and recording it regularly will help the doctor have a more comprehensive view to adjust the treatment method when necessary.
Here are five important tips to help you:
1. Measure Blood Pressure When the Body is Relaxed
One of the common mistakes is measuring blood pressure when you are in a hurry, just moving, or anxious. Such states can easily cause blood pressure to increase temporarily, leading to results that do not reflect the true condition.
Therefore, sit down, take a deep breath and rest for about 5 minutes before taking the measurement. The body needs to be in the most comfortable state possible, this will help the blood pressure index to be obtained more accurately, avoiding fluctuations caused by emotions or temporary physical activities.
2. Choose the Right Time to Measure During the Day
Many people do not know that blood pressure can change over time during the day, and is often highest in the early morning (around 5am to 6am). This is the body’s natural response to waking up and starting to function.
Therefore, to get stable results, you should avoid measuring your blood pressure early in the morning, unless your doctor requires it. Instead, choose a fixed time every day, such as an hour after waking up, or before dinner, when your body has stabilized its biological rhythm.
3. Measure at the Same Time Every Day
Consistency is an important factor in comparing blood pressure readings over time. If you measure your blood pressure at a different time each day, the results can fluctuate greatly due to the influence of many factors such as food, exercise, or mood.
Therefore, choose a convenient time and maintain measuring your blood pressure at the same time every day. You should also talk to your doctor about the appropriate frequency of measurement, which can usually be 1–2 times/day if you are on treatment, or several times a week if your blood pressure is stable.
4. Measure multiple times and calculate the average
To increase accuracy, experts often recommend that you measure your blood pressure three times in a row, 1–2 minutes apart. Then, discard the first result and calculate the average of the last two times. This helps eliminate the influence of irregular measurements due to nervousness, incorrect posture or unstable equipment.
Although this takes a bit of time, it will give you a more reliable blood pressure reading. Many modern monitors also have an automatic averaging function for you.
5. Understand your target blood pressure level
Not everyone has the same ideal blood pressure level. Young people, the elderly, people with underlying diseases or those taking medication will have different target blood pressure levels. Therefore, you need to ask your doctor about your safe blood pressure level, so that when you measure it yourself at home, you will know when your blood pressure is under good control and when you need to adjust your lifestyle or notify your doctor.
