How Do I Know if I Have High Blood Pressure?
The goal of a blood pressure test is to determine whether your blood pressure is normal, low, or high. Blood pressure is how hard your blood presses against the walls of your arteries as it moves throughout your body. Keep reading to learn more about high blood pressure testing in Bedfordshire
What are Hypotension and Hypertension?
Rarely a cause for concern, low blood pressure (hypotension) can cause dizziness and fainting in some individuals. If you don’t treat hypertension (high blood pressure), it can make you more likely to get serious illnesses, like heart problems.
At least once every five years, healthy persons over the age of 40 should have their blood pressure checked. If you have a higher risk of hypertension, you should have your blood pressure checked more frequently, at least once a year. This basic procedure could potentially save your life.
What types of blood pressure testing are available?
Your pharmacist will do a physical examination and will enquire about your medical history. Using an inflatable arm cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge, a pharmacist, doctor, nurse, or hospital attendant will measure your blood pressure.
The blood pressure in both arms should be measured to determine if there is a difference. It is essential to use the proper sized arm cuff.
High blood pressure testing in Bedfordshire
If you have high blood pressure, your pharmacist may suggest that you take a number of tests to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other possible causes.
– Ambulatory monitoring test. This 24-hour blood pressure monitoring test will reveal whether or not you have hypertension. This test uses technology that checks your blood pressure at regular times over the course of 24 hours. This gives a more accurate picture of how your blood pressure changes during the day and night.
– Laboratory tests. Your doctor or pharmacist may suggest that you get a urinalysis and blood tests, like a cholesterol test.
– A medical test known as an electrocardiogram (also known as an ECG or EKG). This straightforward test measures the electrical impulses of your heart.
– Depending on your symptoms and test results, your doctor may recommend an echocardiogram to look for additional signs of heart disease.
What are the five symptoms and warning signs of hypertension?
These symptoms indicate that you have high blood pressure that requires medical attention:
– Severe headaches
– Confusion or fatigue
– Visual difficulties
– Chest discomfort
– Breathing difficulties and irregular heartbeat
It’s always advisable to embrace a healthy lifestyle, like stopping smoking, eating more nutritious meals, and engaging in more physical activity. These are the most prevalent methods for preventing hypertension and its associated consequences, including heart attacks and strokes.
How to interpret your results from high blood pressure testing in Bedfordshire
Normal
Normal blood pressure readings are under 120/80 mm Hg. If you have this result, continue to practise heart-healthy behaviours including eating nutritious meals and exercising regularly.
Elevated
Blood pressure is considered to be elevated when it continuously ranges between 120 to 129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic mm Hg. This group is more likely to develop hypertension if they do not take measures to control it.
Stage 1 Hypertension
This form of hypertension is characterised by fluctuating blood pressure between 130 and 139 systolic mm Hg or 80 and 89 diastolic mm Hg. Depending on your risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), like a heart attack or stroke, doctors are likely to propose lifestyle changes and may also prescribe blood pressure medication at this stage of hypertension.
Stage 2 Hypertension
Stage 2 hypertension involves a regular blood pressure reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher. At this point, doctors are likely to suggest a combination of blood pressure medicines and changes to the way you live.
A hypertensive crisis
This level of hypertension requires medical treatment. If your blood pressure suddenly increases above 180/120 mm Hg, wait five minutes before taking another reading. Immediately schedule a consultation with your physician if your results continue to be too high. High blood pressure is considered to be an emergency and should be attended to as quickly as possible.
If you are experiencing symptoms of organ damage, including chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness/weakness, visual issues, or difficulty speaking, do not wait for your blood pressure to drop on its own. Seek medical attention immediately.
What should I do if my high blood pressure testing in Bedfordshire is 150/90?
A blood pressure reading of 150/90 mmHg is classified as stage I hypertension, indicating that hypertension is present. You should do your best to follow the guidance above and the advice from your pharmacist to control it and maybe even bring it down to normal levels.
At C&H Barton Pharmacy, we offer the hypertension case finding service. This service allows us to quickly test you in-store at your convenience to detect previously unnoticed cases of hypertension. Following this, we can provide 24-hour monitoring if your blood pressure reading shows that you have high blood pressure. This can reduce the time taken to get treatment because we can then send this data to your GP, allowing them to make a decision about your blood pressure medication.
If your blood pressure results are very high we can escalate this with your GP to get your blood pressure under control quickly.
Book your appointment with us today to get your blood pressure tested!
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This blog post was written on behalf of C & H Barton Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.