What is Blood Pressure?
“Arterial blood pressure”, that is, blood pressure, is the pressure created by the heart in the arteries while pumping blood to the body. This pressure is not constant, it varies depending on the movements of the heart during the pumping process and decreases or increases throughout the day. It is normal for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day; However, if it is constantly above normal, it indicates high blood pressure. High blood pressure is also called “ hypertension ”. The risk of heart attack , stroke and cardiovascular diseases is directly proportional to the increase in blood pressure. Increased blood pressure progresses as high blood pressure, stage 1 hypertension, stage 2 hypertension and hypertensive crisis according to certain blood pressure values:
- A consistent systolic blood pressure of 130-139 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 85-89 mmHg indicates high blood pressure.
- Stage 1 hypertension is the period when systolic blood pressure is constantly between 130-139 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure is between 85-89 mmHg.
- Stage 2 hypertension is when blood pressure is consistently 140/90 mmHg or higher.
- It requires medical intervention when blood pressure is 180/120 mmHg and above. Symptoms such as chest pain , changes in speech or vision, and shortness of breath indicate that you are experiencing a hypertensive crisis.
Low blood pressure is usually lower than 90/60 mmHg and is also called ” Hypotension “. Hypotension symptoms occur when your body is unable to compensate for the drop in blood pressure. Symptoms such as dizziness , nausea , blurred vision , and fainting are usually observed; However, it may not always cause obvious symptoms. Symptoms may vary depending on the cause of the drop in blood pressure and how quickly it develops. For example, you may experience a sudden drop in blood pressure when you stand up due to reasons such as hunger, thirst or extreme fatigue . But sudden drops in blood pressure can be life-threatening and you may need treatment. The causes of this type of hypotension may be:
- Bleeding and blood loss
- Low or high body temperature
- Heart conditions that cause heart failure
- Serious blood infection (sepsis)
- Severe dehydration from vomiting, diarrhea, or fever
- A serious allergic reaction
What are the Types of Blood Pressure?
There are 2 types of blood pressure values and your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers in measuring devices. These two numbers are systolic blood pressure, which is “systolic blood pressure,” and diastolic blood pressure, which is “diastolic blood pressure.” The first number is systolic blood pressure, which is the larger value; The second number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the smaller value. They are measured according to the contraction and rest of the heart, and these values give you information about your circulatory system. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure are determined by the effects of the dynamic balance that includes the central nervous system. These effects:
- Volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute
- Fluidity of blood
- There may be elasticity of the artery.
Apart from these mechanisms, environmental factors such as altitude, seasons, stress; physical factors such as body posture and emotional factors, smoking, alcohol, obesity and nutrition; are other factors that cause blood pressure changes.
What is Hypertension?
The medical name for systolic blood pressure is “systolic blood pressure”. This pressure indicates the amount of pressure your blood exerts on the artery wall during heartbeats. In short, systolic blood pressure is a value that shows how strongly the heart contracts. The first number you see on measuring devices gives this pressure and is called systolic blood pressure. For example, in a situation where the blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, the number “120” indicates systolic blood pressure. If your blood pressure is high, systolic blood pressure usually determines which stage of hypertension you are in.
What is Diastolic Blood Pressure?
Even when the heart is resting between beats, it puts pressure on the artery. This pressure, known as “diastolic blood pressure” or diastolic blood pressure, is the force that the heart exerts on the artery between each beat. In other words, it is the pressure at which the heart relaxes before the next beat. The second number on measuring devices indicates this pressure and is called diastolic blood pressure. For example, in a situation where the blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg, the number “80” indicates diastolic blood pressure. Even if your diastolic blood pressure is normal, your systolic blood pressure may be high. In this case, systolic blood pressure is taken into account rather than diastolic blood pressure.
What Should the Blood Pressure Be?
Blood pressure is one of the most frequently measured clinical parameters and its values can be decisive in treatment decisions. Blood pressure is measured with a sphygmomanometer and is affected by factors such as age, nutrition and the presence of chronic disease. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers: these are known as systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. Normal blood pressure values are on average around 120/80 mmHg. This measurement is also expressed as 12 by 8. To obtain an accurate blood pressure measurement, measurements are taken at least three separate times and the average of two or more blood pressure measurements is taken into account. The accuracy of blood pressure measurement is important for diagnosis. It is important to be checked against the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Blood pressure problems can be corrected with early diagnosis and thus their negative effects on the body can be controlled.
What is False Blood Pressure?
Diagnosis and treatment cannot be decided by measuring blood pressure once. Because events during the day, exercises, eating and smoking can affect blood pressure values and cause fluctuations. Therefore, taking measurements at different times and more than once gives more accurate results. Not every increase in blood pressure may be hypertension. At such times, an incorrect diagnosis can be made by measuring blood pressure or with a single measurement. Therefore, you can receive treatment even if you do not have hypertension. This situation is called “pseudo-hypertension”. In addition, stress can also trigger an increase in blood pressure, and this phenomenon is called “psychological tension”. The increase in blood pressure seen during stressful times during the day explains this picture.
Blood Pressure During Pregnancy
During pregnancy, the mother’s body undergoes many physiological changes for the development of the baby. The mother’s increased blood volume and the baby’s needs affect blood pressure. The normal blood pressure values of pregnant women should be around 120/80 mmHg on average. High blood pressure during pregnancy is common and its treatment is important during and after pregnancy. High blood pressure during pregnancy can occur in two forms: chronic hypertension and pregnancy-induced hypertension. Chronic hypertension is hypertension that was present before pregnancy. Pregnancy-induced hypertension is when blood pressure is normal in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and then is 140/90 mmHg or above in the second half of pregnancy. Gestational hypertension occurs when you only have high blood pressure without having heart or kidney problems. However, some women with gestational hypertension have an increased risk of developing chronic hypertension in the future. Risks of high blood pressure for the mother:
- Preeclampsia (pregnancy poisoning)
- Stroke
- Caesarean section is the need for birth.
Conditions that may develop due to high blood pressure in the mother and are risky for the baby;
- Early birth
- Less blood flow to the placenta
- Growth retardation and low birth weight.
Preeclampsia occurs when a woman who previously had normal blood pressure suddenly develops high blood pressure, protein in the urine, and other problems after 20 weeks of pregnancy. However, sometimes preeclampsia occurs in women who had chronic hypertension before pregnancy. Preeclampsia; It can cause damage to vital organs such as kidneys, liver and brain, and if left untreated, it can be life-threatening for the mother and baby (1). Low blood pressure is less common during pregnancy and may be directly related to pregnancy. The expansion of the circulatory system during pregnancy may slightly lower blood pressure. In addition, diabetes , heart problems, malnutrition, infections and excessive dehydration can also cause low blood pressure. Against the possible risks of high and low blood pressure for mother and baby:
- You should have regular checkups before and during pregnancy.
- You should not start or stop any medication before consulting your doctor.
- You should regulate your nutrition and lifestyle.
- You should also monitor your blood pressure after birth and consult your doctor if you experience any symptoms.
