Blood Pressure
Your heart pumps blood around your body through a network of tubing called arteries. Every time your heart pumps it forces blood through these arteries and into smaller blood vessels called capillaries. Blood pressure (BP) is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Each time the heart beats (about 60–70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your BP is at its highest when the heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
BP is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg (measured in millimeters of mercury, a unit for measuring pressure) i.e. If your blood pressure is 120/80, it is said to be "120 over 80."
BP changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. However, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still. If your BP stays high, 140/90 mmHg or higher, you have high blood pressure. With as a result the heart works harder, your arteries are strained, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are greater.
The good news is that if your BP is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with medication. This will reduce your risk of developing heart and brain problems that might otherwise occur if your BP is not treated. In many people, blood pressure is not checked or measured, and in some people who have high blood pressure it may not be treated adequately. In the UK, there are now an estimated 16 million people with a BP higher than 140/90mmHg. One in every three adults now has high BP, with larger numbers affected in older age groups.
Osteopaths are trained in checking BP, and they often take it as part of a routine examination. If they discover your BP is high, then they will advise you on lifestyle changes and refer you to your G.P. to ensure that it is dealt with swiftly. Follow the link below to visit an osteopath in your area.
Blood Pressure
BP is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures. Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg (measured in millimeters of mercury, a unit for measuring pressure) i.e. If your blood pressure is 120/80, it is said to be "120 over 80."
BP changes during the day. It is lowest as you sleep and rises when you get up. It also can rise when you are excited, nervous, or active. However, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty much the same when you are sitting or standing still. If your BP stays high, 140/90 mmHg or higher, you have high blood pressure. With as a result the heart works harder, your arteries are strained, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems are greater.
The good news is that if your BP is high, it can be lowered by making changes to your lifestyle, for example changing your diet, exercising and losing weight, and when needed, with medication. This will reduce your risk of developing heart and brain problems that might otherwise occur if your BP is not treated. In many people, blood pressure is not checked or measured, and in some people who have high blood pressure it may not be treated adequately. In the UK, there are now an estimated 16 million people with a BP higher than 140/90mmHg. One in every three adults now has high BP, with larger numbers affected in older age groups.
Osteopaths are trained in checking BP, and they often take it as part of a routine examination. If they discover your BP is high, then they will advise you on lifestyle changes and refer you to your G.P. to ensure that it is dealt with swiftly. Follow the link below to visit an osteopath in your area.
Blood Pressure
