Normal blood pressure values

What is the normal tension?

Hypertension is a pathological state characterized by a sustained increase in blood pressure above Of the values ​​considered "normal", this is 140 for systolic (popularly 14 for "maximum") and 90 for diastolic (popularly 9 for "minimum").

Every time they take our blood pressure they give us two figures: the first is the systolic blood pressure ("The maximum" or "the high") while the second is diastolic blood pressure ("The minimum" or "the low"). Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure are not two different types of blood pressure, but two aspects of the same process.

In general, in an adult, normal blood pressure figures are below 140 systolic (popularly 14 for "maximum") and 90 for diastolic (popularly 9 for "minimum"), that is, the normal thing is to have the tension in 14 9. It must be taken into account that throughout the day blood pressure undergoes variations that are also normal, although generally with values ​​below 140 and 90.

Thus, an adult from 18 years of age is hypertensive when he has permanently elevated blood pressure values above 140 maximum and / or 90 minimum (it is enough that one of the two is elevated, or both at the same time).

How is it produced?

In most hypertensive individuals (90-95%) the true cause of high blood pressure is unknown. Is what we call essential hypertensive. In these individuals, hypertension is due to the joint action of several factors: heredity, constitution, race, psychological factors, type of diet and lifestyle.

The secondary arterial hypertension it occurs in 5-10% of hypertensive individuals. In them, a specific and known cause is found, such as the presence of kidney tumors or tumors of the hormone-producing glands, a malfunction of the kidney, the taking of certain medications, the taking of cocaine, etc.

Symptoms of hypertension

High blood pressure is a disorder that usually does not give symptoms but that when it is present it progressively damages our organism until cause serious injury disabling or even death, and this without prior notice: strokes and cerebral hemorrhages, angina pectoris, myocardial infarction, heart failure, kidney failure, blindness, etc.

In some cases they may nonspecific symptoms appear such as palpitations or headaches.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis will be based on the knowledge of the blood pressure values ​​with. Currently we have automatic devices that allow us to know our blood pressure figures in a simple way, in our own home and in various situations.

However, it is essential that some aspects to avoid obtaining false figures that may lead to inappropriate treatments:

• In the previous hour not having smoked or drinking alcohol or coffee.
• Quiet environment without noise.
• Previous break of several minutes.
• Get into a sitting position.
• Place the arm horizontal and at the level of the heart.
• Reject the first pressure measurement obtained.

But it is important to know that the diagnosis of arterial hypertension should not be based on an isolated measurement since the figures above 140/90 may be due to a banal reason and transitory, such as a previous physical exercise, a temporary emotional stress, the taking of some hypertensive substance such as coffee, a technical incorrectness during the measurement, etc.

Therefore, the diagnosis of hypertension is made when the figures in at least two determinations obtained they adequately exceed the 140/90 values.

It is essential that you know whether or not you are hypertensive, because treatment delays and reaches stop the progression of cardiovascular complications associated with hypertension.

To help establish the diagnosis in cases of high but isolated values, complementary techniques can be used, such as the self-measurement of blood pressure (AMPA) performed at the patient's home or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for 24 hours (ABPM).

Once it is known that you are hypertensive, your doctor may perform other tests to help rule out a disease that is responsible for your hypertension.

Treatment

First of all, the doctor's advice should be followed. The doctor of the hypertensive individual will decide what treatment measures to take to lower blood pressure numbers.

The therapeutic objective in all hypertensive individuals is the normalization of blood pressure, in a stable and sustained manner, at least at figures below 140 systolic and 90 diastolic. But the figures to be arrived at should not be based only on the isolated value of blood pressure, but also on the presence of other risk factors, accompanying diseases such as diabetes, suffering from cardiovascular or kidney diseases, etc.

That is also why, if you have other factors that increase the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease, especially diabetes mellitus, it is very important to treat these other risk factors and not only that of high blood pressure.

Non-pharmacological treatment

The action plan always goes through a lifestyle modification. These general measures are based on changing and eliminating a number of detrimental factors:

• .
• Reduce excess weight.
• Moderate or suppress alcohol consumption.
• . This is achieved by reducing the amount of salt used in the preparation of your meals, avoiding salty foods (salted, hams, cold cuts in general, bread and crackers with salt, French fries, canned foods, precooked foods), and also removing the salt shaker. of the table.
• Eat a diet low in fat of animal origin.
• Increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, legumes and greens.
• Do moderate and aerobic physical exercise and do it every day: walk up the stairs instead of using the elevator, walk to the next subway or bus stop and get off one stop earlier, go for a walk with a group of friends, ride a bike, swim ...

It had been strongly recommended not to drink beverages rich in caffeine (or theine) such as coffee, tea, cola, etc. by the direct relationship between caffeine consumption and elevation of blood pressure. However, it is currently accepted that moderate consumption (1 or 2 cups of tea or coffee a day) do not usually alter blood pressure figures. However, there are individuals who may have higher blood pressure figures when they consume these drinks, in which case these people should drink decaffeinated beverages.

Pharmacotherapy

If these changes don't help control blood pressure in 3 to 6 months, the disease must be treated with medication. Currently there are a number of effective and well-tolerated antihypertensive drugs:

• diuretics, alpha and beta-blockers.
• Calcium channel antagonists.
• Angiotensin type 2 receptor antagonists.
• Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.
• Direct renin inhibitors.

The choice of antihypertensive treatment It must take into account the characteristics of the patient: associated diseases, physical characteristics and lifestyle habits, for example. In addition, many patients require the use of multiple medications to obtain adequate blood pressure control.

Treatment of secondary hypertension

If a cause of hypertension is found, treatment should be to correct it, for example, surgically remove the tumor if there is a pheochromocytoma, or dilate the obstructed renal artery.

Precautionary measures

Most individuals who suffer from hypertension generally have no symptoms (except when stress levels rise very sharply) and thus the disease can go unnoticed for many years. Therefore, it is advisable to go to the doctor from time to time to check blood pressure, even if we are healthy.

It is recommended to take the blood pressure as a routine measurement, at least once a year from 35-40 years. If there are risk factors, personal or family (hypertensive relatives, obesity, diabetes, etc.), this blood pressure control should be started earlier and repeated more frequently.

Conclusions.

blood pressure never has the same value. It varies throughout the day. But always must be below 140 and 90. If your blood pressure is above these values, Primary Care, even if you have no symptoms.

Essential arterial hypertension cannot be definitively cured. Hypertensive patients in whom no cause is found for their hypertension are chronic patients and must follow the appropriate treatment and regimen throughout their lives. But it is important to know that the normalization of blood pressure with indicated treatments your doctor will reduce the consequences that this disease has on your heart, brain, retina and kidney.

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