Your heart creates pressure in your arteries by pumping blood, forcing the blood to be pushed all the way through your body. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers: Systolic is the top number, measuring pressure when the heart beats; diastolic is the bottom number, measuring pressure when the heart is relaxed, between beats.
These numbers can be determined within less than a minute via a sphygmomanometer, which is the arm-cuff device used to measure your blood pressure. Because mercury was the material used in the original sphygmomanometers, the standard unit of measurement for blood pressure continues to be millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
Let’s talk about the five stages of blood pressure as it can become higher, what the number readings are at each stage, and where you can go in Kennesaw for outstanding treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) – and for complete medical care for your whole family.
Five Categories of Blood Pressure
Normal Blood Pressure: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
This reading indicates that your heart and arteries are functioning normally.
Elevated Blood Pressure: 120-129 Systolic and Less than 80 mm Hg Diastolic
These numbers mean that increased pressure is being exerted on your arteries. This can indicate that you are at risk of developing high blood pressure in the future, so your doctor will give you advice about how to keep these numbers as low as possible via diet, exercise, and lifestyle.
Stage 1 High Blood Pressure: 130-139 Systolic and 80-89 mm Hg Diastolic
These values indicate that your arterial walls are experiencing excess pressure even at rest, between heartbeats. At this point, you have hypertension. You will need to start taking blood pressure medication in order to try to keep your high blood pressure as low as possible and to prevent the pressure from increasing.
Stage 2 High Blood Pressure: 140/90 mm Hg or Higher
Hypertension stage 2 means that your heart needs to pump blood much stronger than what is normal. Your doctor will likely give you a stronger prescription medication.
Hypertensive Crisis: Above 180/120 mm Hg
If you are seeing these numbers and they do not go down after five minutes, call 911 and immediately seek medical attention.
You may also experience the following symptoms during a hypertensive crisis:
- Severe chest pain
- Severe headache with blurry vision
- Shortness of breath
- Back pain
- Nausea or vomiting
- Seizures
- Unresponsiveness or difficulty speaking
- Numbness or weakness
High Blood Pressure Treatment in Kennesaw, GA
