How High Is High Blood Pressure?

If you’ve been to the doctor recently and been told you have high blood pressure, you may wonder how high is high blood pressure? That’s a great question – and there are ranges of high blood pressure that can be slightly high or dangerously high.

First, you need to know that textbook normal blood pressure is 120/80. But most people don’t have textbook pressure – and that can still be ok.

Normal blood pressure can have a range of anywhere between 90/60 to 120/80.

If you’re anywhere in that range you’re in good shape.

Below that and you have what’s known as hypotension – blood pressure that’s too low.

This can be a dangerous problem that needs to be treated.

However, most people fall into the category of having high blood pressure, so we’ll focus on those ranges.

If your top number is between 120 and 139 and your bottom number is between 80 and 89, you’re considered to have pre-hypertension.

You don’t really have high blood pressure yet, but you need to keep an eye on it and make sure your lifestyle is heart healthy.

If the top number is between 140 and 159 and the bottom number is between 90 and 99, you’re considered to have stage 1 hypertension.

Usually at this point your doctor will talk to you about making lifestyle changes.

If you agree to do that, you won’t need medication yet.

After six months you’ll go back to your doctor and check in to see if lifestyle changes have caused blood pressure to decrease.

You may also be asked to keep a log of blood pressures you take yourself.

You can do this at many pharmacies or purchase a blood pressure machine for home use.

If, after six months, you don’t have an improvement in your blood pressure you may need to begin taking a medication to help lower your blood pressure.

This will prevent heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

When the top number of your blood pressure is 160 or more and the bottom number is 100 or more, you’re considered to be in stage 2 hypertension.

You’ll still need to focus on changing your lifestyle factors, but you’ll probably be prescribed medication right away.

In fact, you may have to take more than one medication to control blood pressure that is very high.

However, if you make lifestyle change such as weight loss, lowering the salt in your diet, and adding exercise you may be able to become less dependent on the medication.

Blood pressure is an important measurement, but it can be confusing.

Understanding how high is high blood pressure can help you to understand your options when you speak with your healthcare provider about your own measurements.

What Is the Cause of High Blood Pressure?

If you’ve been diagnosed with it, you’re probably wondering what is the cause of high blood pressure?

There’s no one cause for this disorder. There are several factors that can lead to it and you’ll need to evaluate which ones apply to you.

First, if you’re overweight or obese this can lead to the development of high blood pressure.

It’s important to get as close to your ideal weight as possible.

When you have more weight to carry around, your body is put under extra stress.

Alcohol use can also contribute to high blood pressure.

While having a drink or two will not cause problems, but more than that can lead to problems.

It’s best to drink moderately if you choose to drink at all.

Your consumption of salt can also cause blood pressure to rise.

If you have high blood pressure, it’s important to subscribe to a low sodium diet in order to help lower it.

When you start watching your sodium intake, you’ll be surprised at how much salt is found in foods.

It’s also known that smoking and using other tobacco products can cause your blood pressure levels to rise.

Nicotine is the drug in tobacco products and it can cause your heart rate to become elevated as well as your blood pressure.

Smoking is generally bad for heart health and if you have a problem with high blood pressure, the best thing you can do is stop smoking as soon as possible.

You’ll begin to reduce your risk of heart disease immediately.

If you lead a stressful lifestyle, it can also lead to high blood pressure.

It’s important to manage stress as much as possible

Whenever possible, look for ways to reduce the things that cause your stress.

But no matter how much you reduce stress it’s impossible to completely eliminate it.

That makes it critical that you learn how to manage the stress you do have.

Meditation is one way you can lower stress levels.

You can also use exercise and enjoying hobbies to take your mind off of the things in life that are causing you to feel stress.

You also need to factor in family history.

People who have a family history of high blood pressure and heart disease are often going to have to deal with it in their own lives.

This genetic predisposition may make it difficult to lower blood pressure without medication – even with a healthy lifestyle.

While there are many things you can do with lifestyle choices, some people have high blood pressure without being able to pinpoint the cause.

Understanding what is the cause of high blood pressure can help you to lower it through lifestyle changes or lead you down the road of medication.

It’s much better to keep yourself from developing heart disease than to try to keep it from getting worse later.

Continue to research here to learn more about how to have healthy heart tips for your lifetime fitness and health.

If you found this article helpful to you, please share it on your favourite social network platforms!

And if you would like to add your own page on this site with your experiences and suggestions for healthy heart tips, just click the COMMENT link below and the submission box will open up for you.

"Power Tips" magazine is back!
You Get A Free Complete Self Help Report delivered to your email box every edition, plus you get a free PLR article and other great gifts!

SUBSCRIBE BELOW ...  I promise you will want to USE what you learn!

I really want to know what you think of this site, this page, and to hear your tips or suggestions about it.

So please share your story or simply add a Comment in the comment box.

If you feel that the information on this page has been useful to you please give it a Like or share it with your friends - thanks!!

"You are a life Saver!!

I recently discovered this site and I can tell you that my life has not been the same. I now come here EVERYDAY and spend at least 1 hour.

I used to spend that time browsing online fashion and beauty magazine which just means that I spend more. Now I have replaced that habit with coming here.

In future I will think about contributing articles as well. Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!! and God bless"

Contact Us | About Us | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | FAQ | Testimonials

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.