That old belief about 120/80 blood pressure readings being ideal for all people does not apply to all age groups. If your blood pressure reading is 120/80, this is an acceptable range as long as you are between the ages of 15 and 40. At 10 years of age, your blood pressure should be nowhere near 120/80 as it would be too high. It so happens that blood pressure readings, which are expressed by the force of the heart’s ventricular contractions, vary substantially as we age.
Blood pressure readings start with the systolic range, which refers to the left cardiac ventricle, over the diastolic range, which refers to the diastolic pressure as the chambers of the heart are filled with blood. When these ranges reach upper levels, the risk of stroke, heart disease and deterioration of kidney functions increase.
In general, adults will want to keep their blood pressure as low as possible, but not so low that their systolic reading is under 100 and their diastolic is lower than 65.
When we are born, our blood pressure can be as low as 75/50 and as high as 100/75. Over time, our cardiac tissue ages and our blood pressure readings start climbing.
From 20 to 40 years old, 120/80 is considered to be a normal range while 135/86 may be too high and a reason for concern. In general, blood pressure can be kept lower with the right amount of exercise, proper nutrition and avoiding intoxicants such as alcohol and nicotine.
High blood pressure is a common condition that places significant burdens on the healthcare systems of both developed and developing countries. This condition accounts for about 13% of all deaths in the United States. High blood pressure is also one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which can lead to other diseases including stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.
High blood pressure is defined as having a systolic BP over 140 mmHg or diastolic BP over 90 mmHg. When high blood pressure goes untreated it may lead to other complications such as heart attack or stroke.
There are many risk factors that contribute to an individual’s chance of developing high blood pressure. These include obesity, alcohol use, lack of physical activity, high salt intake, and kidney disease.
One of the most common ways that hypertension is treated is through the use of drugs that interfere with one or more factors that contribute to its development. These factors include angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, and diuretics.
Lifestyle modifications are also important in the treatment of high blood pressure. These include losing weight if overweight, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and getting regular exercise. In some cases, surgery may also be recommended to help control blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a serious condition that can lead to heart attack and stroke. It is important to take steps to avoid developing this condition and to treat it as early as possible if it develops.
If you are concerned about your blood pressure or any other symptoms or medical conditions, please see your family physician for a complete physical exam and appropriate testing. If you would like more information on how to prevent or treat high blood pressure, please visit our website or speak to one of our pharmacists. Thank you for choosing our pharmacy!
