Blood pressure is one of those things people talk about – one number over another, diastolic, systolic, hypertension, arteries – but what does that all mean? Is it important to know your blood pressure, and if so, what’s a good number? And what are the risks of a bad one?
Let’s start with the definition – the NZ Heart Foundation explains that your heart pumps blood around your body through a network of arteries (tubes). With each heartbeat, the blood pushes against the artery walls; the strength of this ‘pushing’ is your blood pressure. As we know anecdotally from people jokingly saying ‘Don’t raise my blood pressure, it’s lower when you’re asleep or relaxed – higher when you’re active, or stressed.
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and the ideal number is 120/75, or lower (if you’re not on any type of blood pressure meds). The problem arises when your blood pressure stays above recommended levels long-term (at least three separate readings, on three separate occasions, over at least three months). The concern is that it can lead to damaged arteries and increase your risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and eye damage.
So what causes high blood pressure? That is a hard question to answer as it varies so much from person to person, there are risk factors like smoking or vaping, eating too many processed foods and salt (salt makes your body store extra water which raises your blood pressure), excessive alcohol use, being dangerously overweight, stress, diabetes, and – unfortunately- old age.
What can we do to minimise risk? The first thing is to get your blood pressure checked by your doctor, nurse or pharmacist to see where you are at. If that number is elevated, test again on another occasion till you see a pattern. Then your doctor will assess how much at risk you are (family history will play a part) and prescribe medication if you are in a very dangerous zone.
If not, then it’s all about having a look at your current lifestyle choices: reviewing your diet (does it contain things like whole grains, legumes and pulses, nuts and seeds, fruits and vegetables and oily fish?) getting more active. managing your stress levels and cutting down your salt intake (according to the Stroke Foundation most New Zealanders are consuming close to double the amount we should and this is coming from our love for processed food, rather than directly from the salt shakers) There has also been some evidence to say supplements like potassium, magnesium, CoQ10, garlic and fish oil could be helpful too so it’s worth consulting a naturopath. A multi-pronged lifestyle approach can help you to bring that number down and make sure you’re around for many more years to come, and the bonus is you’ll likely feel better all around.
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