{"id":13462,"date":"2022-09-20T20:15:26","date_gmt":"2022-09-20T20:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/?p=13462"},"modified":"2022-09-30T20:05:46","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T20:05:46","slug":"understanding-your-blood-pressure-readings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/docsmedicalgroup.com\/docsurgentcare\/understanding-your-blood-pressure-readings\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding Your Blood Pressure Readings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Understanding Your Blood Pressure Readings<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u2019ve all got our blood pressures checked at some point. A doctor or a nurse wraps our arms around with a cuff, and as it tightens, the numbers on the <\/span>sphygmomanometer<\/span><\/a>, the instrument used to read blood pressure, fluctuate. At the end of the reading, the devices will show you numbers you barely know about \u2013 only that it dictates your blood pressure. Is it high? Low? Or is it normal?<\/span><\/p>\n

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), <\/span>47% of adults in the U.S.<\/span><\/a> have high blood pressure, commonly referred to as hypertension. Unfortunately, only 1 out of 4 adults in that population have their hypertension under control. To understand your current blood pressure condition, a person must know how to read blood pressure readings first.<\/span><\/p>\n

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DOCS Urgent Care & Primary Care Fairfield, the <\/span>leading urgent care in Fairfield, CT<\/a><\/span>,<\/span> will show you how.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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What Does Blood Pressure Measure?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>

Before we start, you must first have a good grasp of what blood pressure is in the first place. Blood pressure is the force your heart uses to pump and circulate oxygenated blood in your organs and around your body. Your heart is a biological pump, and its pumping action creates the force necessary to push blood into the network of tube-shaped vessels, such as the arteries, veins, and capillaries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

You would typically see blood pressure expressed using two numbers: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Each unique number has different meanings, but both are equally important in monitoring your heart health.<\/span><\/p>

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Systolic<\/b><\/span><\/h3>

The systolic blood pressure measures the pressure in your arteries whenever your heart beats. In the systolic phase, the heart contracts, and the blood pressure rises as it goes out along your blood vessels. Average systolic blood pressure is around 120mm\/hg or below.<\/span><\/p>

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Diastolic<\/b><\/span><\/h3>

The diastolic blood pressure measures the pressure when your heart is resting between beats. In the diastolic phase, the heart relaxes, and the blood pressure falls as blood fills the heart. Normal diastolic pressure is 80mm\/hg.<\/span><\/p>

If you encounter 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, you\u2019d typically hear a health worker say \u201c120 over 80\u201d. On paper, this reading would be \u201c120\/80 mmHg.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

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Categories of Blood Pressure<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\nNow that you understand systolic and diastolic pressure, it\u2019s time to know the different blood pressure categories. Both systolic and diastolic numbers will be used to identify what a person\u2019s blood pressure condition currently is and whether they need to seek medical attention or not.<\/span>\n\nAccording to the <\/span>American Heart Association<\/span><\/a>, there are five blood pressure ranges.<\/span>\n

Normal<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nAverage blood pressure numbers would be 120\/80 mmHg. If your blood pressure falls within these ranges, urgent care in Fairfield, CT, may suggest you maintain heart-healthy habits, such as staying active and eating a balanced diet.<\/span>\n

Elevated<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\nA person\u2019s blood pressure is considered elevated when the sphygmomanometer shows pressure ranges of about 130 to 139 systolic or 80 to 89 diastolic. If you have elevated blood pressure, you\u2019re at risk of high blood pressure, and your healthcare provider will suggest you control your condition as soon as possible.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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