Know once and for all what blood pressure an adult should have

One of the biggest risks to our health, especially as we age, is the appearance of cardiovascular diseases🇧🇷 Monitoring the development of these problems is not always easy, but one of the ways to do this is to measuring and tracking blood pressure🇧🇷

Blood pressure is nothing more than the pressure level at which your blood circulates through your blood vessels. It is used to assess the health status of the cardiovascular system and high blood pressure (hypertension) is associated with failures of this system. In practical terms, the increase in pressure is due to the contraction of the vessels for some reason, causing the blood to have less space to circulate.

Therefore, it is important to monitor and pay attention to blood pressure, as this measurement is what allows health professionals to observe and intervene preventively to avoid life-threatening diseases — since Hypertension is one of the leading causes of deathparticularly among the elderly.

In the past, blood pressure was commonly measured with mercury sphygmomanometers, which are now replaced by electronic pressure gauges that fit on the wrist. That is why the unit of measurement used to measure blood pressure is called millimeters of mercury (mmHg)🇧🇷

It is also worth noting that the blood pressure measurement is double (x by x)🇧🇷 On the one hand, measuring the maximum pressure reached when the heart pumps blood, called the systolic pressure. On the other, is minimum pressure of our arteries when the heart receives blood, called diastolic pressure.

What is the normal blood pressure value?

Taking into account the diversity of people, there is no exact answer for this question, as there may be variations in what is considered a normal pressure. However, it is common for a healthy blood pressure to be below 120 and 80 mmHg (12 by 8) of systolic and diastolic pressure, respectively.

A pressure above 120 mmHg and below 130 is already considered high, as the hypertension begins to be diagnosed between 130 and 140 mmHg🇧🇷 Meanwhile, low blood pressure, called hypotension, despite causing milder symptoms like dizziness and fainting, also carries health risks. The normal thing is that the pressure is not below 90 and 60 mmHg🇧🇷

How to control blood pressure

In an article published in MinhaVida, cardiologist Pedro Mekhitarian explains the causes of hypertension. “Usually, it is caused when there is greater resistance and hardening of the blood vessels for the passage of blood, which requires greater strength from the heart to pump blood. This can be a body’s natural processbut it is increased with some of the risk factors”, he says.

Not only related to lung problems, the tobacco use it is one of those elements that can harm cardiovascular health. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended not to smoke. O alcohol is another risk factor that, when consumed in excess, can lead to hypertension. In addition, the diagnosis of diabetes and being overweight are also associated with the disease.

So, to keep your health up to date, one of the recommendations is to control your blood pressure and always be aware of it. We know that each organism acts in a way, however, there are some lifestyle changes that can help prevent both hypertension and hypotension.

Practicing physical exercises regularly is an alternative to avoid a sedentary lifestyle and avoid high blood pressure. You can start with simple activities like walking. Another guideline is follow a healthy dietincreasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables and reducing the intake of ultra-processed foods or those with high amounts of sodium.

In an interview with MinhaVida, nutritionist Catia Medeiros explains that, although there is no cure, hypertension can be controlled through the consumption of some foods rich in potassium. 🇧🇷[O nutriente] it is present in yams, black beans, pumpkin, carrots, spinach, passion fruit, oranges, bananas and in several other foods”, he says. So, take care of your plate and get moving to ensure a better quality of life!