How to Science clarifies once and for all what blood pressure an adult should have

"I've been to the doctor, and he told me I have high blood pressure." Blood pressure can be excessive in its upper range (hypertension) or in its lower range (hypotension). Do you know how much blood pressure is high and how much is low? What is the most effective way to measure blood pressure? We will answer these questions below. Blood pressure: values ​​and most effective way to measure it The blood flows through the arteries, exerting greater or lesser pressure on them. When measuring blood pressure, we evaluate the maximum pressure When the heart pumps blood (systolic pressure), and the minimum when the heart fills with blood (diastolic pressure). High blood pressure, (hypertension) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. If blood pressure is high, it increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks, cardiovascular accidents, and kidney damage, among others. If blood pressure is low (hypotension), the heart, brain, and other parts of the body do not get enough blood. It is the main reason why we can feel dizzy at some point, or give that little dizziness when we get up very quickly from the sofa or bed. How much blood pressure is high and how much is low? The ideal blood pressure range is 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. The first number corresponds to the systolic pressure when the heart pumps blood, and the second number corresponds to the diastolic pressure when the heart fills with blood. Values ​​below that range are considered hypotension, and values ​​above it are called differently depending on the blood pressure they show. High blood pressure: systolic between 120 - 129 mmHg and diastolic less than 80 mmHg High blood pressure (hypertension): systolic between 130 - 139 mmHg or diastolic between 80 - 89 mmHg. Note that both must not occur, but only one of the two. Every 20 mmHg that systolic (first number) or every 10 mmHg that diastolic (second number) rises above the normal range doubles the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and stroke. Ambulatory blood pressure: a more difficult option, but more effective, Blood pressure is measured punctually at one time of the day, which can lead to error. Ambulatory blood pressure consists of monitoring blood pressure for 24 hours and obtaining data every 20 or 30 minutes, for one or several days. This measurement offers results that have a better association with health or disease than the punctual measurements of blood pressure in the health center. In fact, there are patients who show normal values ​​when they go to the health center, but when they are obtained through ambulatory blood pressure, they show a higher cardiovascular risk. Take-home message If we have more than 120/80 mmHg of blood pressure, we are above the normal range, and we need to control it, especially through ambulatory blood pressure to obtain more reliable data. If the sphygmomanometer shows values ​​below 90/60 mmHg, it means that our blood pressure is low. Hypertension does not usually show symptoms until we analyze it. It is advisable to go to the health center once a year, and if the values ​​are very close to the limit, we will have to measure blood pressure at various times, with ambulatory blood pressure being the most effective way to do it.