High blood pressure also known as hypertension is very common in Ireland, with a large percentage of Irish adults suffering from the condition. It is the number one cause of premature death worldwide and is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
What is high blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood inside your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into arteries that carry blood throughout your body
Blood pressure is a serious condition where your heart has to work consistently harder to pump blood around your body. If untreated, the arteries can stiffen and narrow, making it easier for fatty material to clog them up and cause heart and circulatory diseases or adverse effects such as heart attack or stroke.
Why get your blood pressure checked?
High blood pressure can be controlled to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular diseases. Most people who have high blood pressure are unaware, there are at least 1.2million people living with the disease in Ireland, since high blood pressure itself rarely causes symptoms.
High blood pressure is thought to cause 50% of heart attacks and strokes.
What do the numbers mean?
When you have your blood pressure measured, you will be given two numbers, systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom). Once you know your numbers, you can use our blood pressure chart to see what they mean and if your blood pressure is in the healthy range.
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). If the first number is 120 and the second number is 80, this would be written as 120/80mmHg, and you'd call it '120 over 80'.
As a general guide:
Ideal blood pressure - 90/60mmHg up to 120/80mmHg
Also called normal blood pressure. Your blood pressure reading is healthy. At this level you have a much lower risk of heart disease and stroke. Following a healthy lifestyle will help you to keep it in the healthy range.
Pre-high blood pressure 120/80mmHg up to 140/90mmHg
Also called high-normal blood pressure. This is not high blood pressure, but it is a little higher than it should be and means you could go on to develop high blood pressure. Making healthy changes to your lifestyle can lower it.
High blood pressure - 140/90mmHg or over
Most doctors use 140/90mmHg as the cut off for point for diagnosing high blood pressure (hypertension). This is the point where your risk of serious health problems goes up. They might prescribe medications and advise you to make changes to your lifestyle to bring your blood pressure down.
Low blood pressure - 90/60mmHg or lower
Low blood pressure usually isn't a problem, but it can sometimes make you feel faint or dizzy or could be a sign of another health problem.
Only one of your numbers needs to be higher than it should be to be diagnosed with high blood pressure, and only one needs to be lower than it should be to be diagnosed with low blood pressure.
So if your top number is over 140 or the bottom number is over 90, you may be diagnosed with high blood pressure, regardless of the other number. If your top number is under 90 or your bottom number is under 60, you may be diagnosed with low blood pressure.
If your top number (systolic pressure) is consistently higher than 140mmHg, but the bottom number is healthy - this is known as Isolated Systolic Hypertension. If the bottom number (diastolic pressure) is consistently higher than 90mmHg but the top number is healthy - this is known as Isolated Diastolic Hypertension.
Here at Ballyduff Pharmacy we offer a measurement service to help with controlling Blood Pressure. We will measure your blood pressure over a number of consecutive days to see if it is continuously raised. We will measure your blood pressure on both arms and offer advice. If we are concerned with your blood pressure reading we will send a referral to your GP.
Phone us on 066 7131111 to book an appointment or email us at prescriptions@ballyduffpharmacy.com
If you are happy to measure your own blood pressure at home, we can guide you on purchasing an 'at home' blood pressure monitor.