Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the measure of pressure on the artery walls. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

It is measured in ‘millimetres of mercury’ (mmHG) using either a digital electronic monitor (the type I use) or a sphygmomanometer (an inflatable cuff and tube of mercury).

A reading gives 2 numbers. The top reading is your Systolic pressure. This is the level of pressure when the heart is contracted and forcing the blood around the body. The lower reading is your Diastolic pressure and occurs in between heartbeats when the heart is in its relaxed phase.

Ideal readings for an adult are 110-130 systolic and 70-90 diastolic.

Your blood pressure varies throughout the day and night. It can be affected by your emotions, smoking, level of activity and medicines. Blood pressure tends to increase with age and so a higher reading is more acceptable for a 75 year old than it is for a 25 year old.

If you want to control your blood pressure here are some tips.

·       Be physically active

·       Keep a healthy body weight

·       Limit salt and alcohol intake

·       Quit smoking

·       Avoid stress

Eating a banana a day helps regulate blood pressure because their high potassium levels help flush out excess sodium.