Blood Pressure

About Blood Pressure:

1.     Blood pressure is a variable entity according to Age, Gender, Environmental factors and Race, normally systolic blood pressure should be 100-140 mmHg and diastolic B.P 60-90 mmHg (Range wise). In adults, when B.P is more than 140-90 it is labeled as hypertension ( High blood pressure), and when it’s value is less than 100-60 it is called hypotension ( Low blood pressure).

2.     Now a days we are following the recommendations of JNC-VII according to which the blood pressure is classified as follows:

                                          Systolic Blood Pressure           Diastolic Blood Pressure

ü Normal                                          <120                              <80

ü Pre Hypertension                          120-139                          80-89

ü Stage -1 Hypertension                  140-159                          90-99

ü Stage -2 Hypertension                  >160                               >100

3.     In persons older than 50 years systolic B.P of more than 140 mmHg is a much more important regarding Cardio Vascular diseases (CVD) risk factor than diastolic B.P.

4.     So according to new recommendations if a person has other risk factors i.e. obesity, hyperlipdemia, diabetes, smoking and family history of hypertension. He should change his life style, diet habits and consult his physician or cardiologist for further evaluation and treatment of hypertension.

5.     Limit of B.P in diabetes and chronic renal disease patients is <130/80.

6.     Remember in more than 90% of hypertensive patients the cause is unknown, this type called “Essential hypertension” while in remaining 10% cause is known and called “Secondary hypertension” i.e. due to chronic renal disease, excess sodium intake, NSAIDS drugs, reno-vascular diseases, thyroid/parathyroid diseases, pheochromocytoma, cushing syndrome and coarctating of aorta.

7.     Self-medication should be discouraged in all cases of hypertensive and hypotensive patients because it can increase he end organ damages, morbidity and mortality considerably i.e. stroke, Heart attacks, Nephropathy, Neuropathy or Angina.

8.     Lastly note some pearls for control B.P:-

ü Reduce your weight

ü Adopt “dash eating plan” take fresh fruits, vegetables and low fat dairy products with reduced contents of saturated and total fat.

ü Take less sodium salt (<6gm/day)

ü Do aerobic physical activity regularly i.e. brisk walk at least 30 min/day

ü Quit smoking if smoker

ü Reduce your total cholesterol and LDL <120 mg/dl