When at the doctor’s office for your Medicare Annual Wellness Visit, did you look at your health chart and wonder what the ‘120/80’ scribbled in the ‘Blood Pressure’ space meant?
What is blood pressure?
Imagine you are pushing a heavy couch from one side of the room to the other. You give a mighty shove, and your hands dig into the backrest. The couch moves a few inches. You pause, shove, pause, and shove again. The couch slides steadily across the floor.
Blood pressure works on a similar principle.
Your heart pumps blood through your arteries and around your circulatory system, just like you’re moving the couch across the room.
As the blood moves, it pushes forcefully against the artery walls, much like your hands pressing into the backrest.
When your heart pauses between beats, the blood doesn’t push as hard against the arteries. This would be like your hands resting lightly on the couch during a pause.
Measuring blood pressure
Blood pressure is measured using two sets of numbers: systolic and diastolic. In medical notation, these are written as systolic/diastolic.
The strong force with which your blood pushes against the artery walls at every heartbeat is the systolic measurement. This is the larger number written on top: systolic/diastolic.
The diastolic measurement is how light the pressure is when your heart is between beats. This is the smaller number written on the bottom: systolic/diastolic.
Whatchamacallit?
The instrument used to measure blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. Here’s how to say it without stumbling.
Healthy blood pressure for seniors aged 65 years and above
Your blood pressure (BP) readings may vary slightly from day to day, or even throughout the day. These small variations can be caused by anything from climbing a few too many stairs, medication, smoking, getting stressed by bad news, or even just having a beer.
For senior adults aged 65 years and above, a good blood pressure reading is between 90/60 (read as ‘90 over 60’) at the lower end and 120/80 (read as ‘120 over 80’) at the higher limit.
Hypotension vs hypertension
Blood pressure that is too low (less than 90/60) is called hypotension. When it is too high (more than 120/80), it’s called hypertension. Neither is good, both have their own dangers, and both can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.
3 ways to maintain ideal blood pressure
Bring your blood pressure within the ideal range — and keep it there — by opting for healthier lifestyle choices.
- Reduce your BMI
A lower body mass index (BMI) means better blood pressure. You can easily calculate your BMI here. If your BMI is higher than it should be, ask your healthcare provider to help you put together a diet and exercise plan to lose weight.
Experts say that it might not seem like much, but losing even five pounds may help get your blood pressure on track.
- Watch what you eat
Aim for a low-fat, low-salt, heart-healthy diet. Pile your plate with whole grains, lean protein, fresh fruit and vegetables, and drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Quit smoking
Cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals. Many of these cause blood vessels to become swollen and inflamed. This makes it harder for blood to flow through and aggravates existing hypertension, putting more pressure on an already overburdened heart.
Why blood pressure matters
Blood pressure is one of the first things primary care providers check when assessing a patient’s health because every organ in the body needs adequate blood flow to function properly.
Pressure that is too low can prevent your organs from working as they should. Meanwhile, pressure that is too high can cause stroke, increase the risk of heart attack, and damage your kidneys among other things.
Doctors become particularly concerned by high blood pressure. Because of this, it’s quite ironic that on a few occasions, doctors are the reason a patient’s blood pressure can rise!
Blood pressure and white coat syndrome
Some of us just aren’t comfortable being in a doctor’s office. That’s completely okay and research shows that such people experience a spike in blood pressure when in a clinical environment. This condition is known as ‘white coat hypertension’ or ‘white coat syndrome’ — the name inspired by medical workwear.
Do you feel anxious around doctors? Let your healthcare provider know when you make your next appointment, and they’ll do everything they can to make you feel comfortable.