The Other Blood Pressure Numbers

Many people are curious about those numbers that are obtained after a typical blood pressure check-up, particularly during the first visit when all the terms and procedures are unknown to the patient. Although doctors and other sources provide the explanations of what those numbers mean, blood pressure have many other numbers involved: the statistics.

Diagnosis of high blood pressure requires at least 3 separate measurements at least one week apart, except when the increase is noticeable or the individual is diabetic. The quicker that high blood pressure can be diagnosed after obtaining the blood pressure numbers resulting in a high reading, the faster they will be able to learn to control their high blood pressure instead of becoming a statistic.

Blood pressure numbers are composed of 2 readings, the higher is the measurement of the systolic pressure and the lower is the measure of the diastolic pressure. The systolic number over the diastolic number determines if an individual has normal blood pressure, or if the pressure is falling or rising into another blood pressure stage.

On the other hand, numbers on the killers' top-ten place as the number one killer is heart disease, which often is the result of its "intimate" and number two friend, high blood pressure, the silent killer which, at this time, is also the friend of the killer ranked number 3: stroke.

In the United States , with nearly 163,000 die of strokes each year, 65 million Americans aged 6 and older have high blood pressure, doctors recommend that you do not become another number in the statistics. Prolonged high blood pressure is what damages your organs because of the lack of oxygen to function properly.

Closely watching the blood pressure numbers you can ensure the proper treatment and keep your high blood pressure under control, because once it appears, there is no cure, only care and control. Blood pressure is measured easily, quickly and inexpensively. In fact, you can get your own blood pressure monitor, check-up and record your blood pressure numbers at home.

Knowing your blood pressure numbers and what they mean can help your doctor and you can call him when the numbers go above the normal readings, preventing hypertension in developing, and getting the adequate medication to lower your blood pressure and keep it under control.

High blood pressure killed 49,707 Americans in 2002 and was the contributing cause of death in 261,000 deaths during the same period, more than 40% of African Americans have high blood pressure, 13% of all people ignore they have hypertension. 11% know it but are unattended, 25% have an inadequate therapy, and 34% follow their doctors' directions.