Education is the Best Medicine - What is Good Blood Pressure?

What is Good Blood Pressure?

Blood Pressure is measured by two numbers. The higher number presents the systolic pressure and the lower one presents the diastolic pressure.

Systolic: The blood pressure when the heart is contracting. It is specifically the maximum arterial pressure during contraction of the left ventricle of the heart. The time at which ventricular contraction occurs is called systole.

A systolic murmur is a heart murmur heard during systole, the time the heart contracts, between the normal first and second heart sounds.

"Systolic" comes from the Greek systole meaning "a drawing together or a contraction." The term has been in use since the 16th century to denote the contraction of the heart muscle.When the two measurements are written down, the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number (for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80." Both numbers in a blood pressure reading are important. As we grow older, systolic blood pressure is especially important.

A third type of blood pressure measurement is the called pulse pressure. Pulse pressure is simply the difference between the systolic and the diastolic readings. Pulse pressure is an indicator of inflammation and stiffness in the arterial walls. The greater pulse pressure, the stiffer and more injured the vessels are thought to be. While pulse pressure is not yet widely used by physicians to determine hypertension treatment, studies indicate that pulse pressure may be a good predictor of cardiovascular problems (i.e. heart problems), particularly in seniors.

Some studies suggest that in people over 45 years old, every 10-mm Hg increase in pulse pressure increases the risk for stroke increases by 11%, cardiovascular disease by 10%, and overall mortality by 16%. In younger adults, the risks are even higher.

For an overall eating plan, consider the DASH eating plan. "DASH" stands for "Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension," a clinical study that tested the effects of nutrients in food on blood pressure. Study results indicated that elevated blood pressures were reduced by an eating plan that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low fat dairy foods and is low in saturated fat, total fat, and cholesterol. The DASH eating plan includes whole grains, poultry, fish, and nuts instead of the diet that brought on the hypertension.