Having healthy blood pressure levels is important, so what does 120/80 blood pressure mean? Know what your numbers are telling you.
While reading your temperature is pretty straightforward, the same can’t be said about your blood pressure measurements. For example, what’s the difference between a reading of 120/70 and 120/80? By learning what the different blood pressure readings mean, you’ll be able to take better care of your health.
The top number is your systolic pressure, which measures the pressure caused by your heart pumping blood into the bloodstream. In contrast, the bottom number is your diastolic pressure, measuring the relaxation phase of the blood pumping process.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that both numbers are important when it comes to your heart health. Normal blood pressure readings are below 120/80 mm Hg, with 120 as your systolic and 80 being your diastolic.
Still, you don’t want your levels to go too low, as anything lower than 90/60 causes hypotension (low blood pressure). If your levels go anywhere between 120-129 systolic and less than 80 diastolic, you have elevated blood pressure.
High blood pressure (hypertension stage 1) starts at 130-139/80-89, with stage 2 being 140 or higher/90 or higher. The last stage is a hypertensive crisis, which is anything higher than 180/120, and you’ll need to call a doctor. Finally, to get a formal diagnosis, you need three readings showing your BP is high, usually spaced a week apart.
The Effects of Hypertension
Since your heart has to pump more forcefully if you have hypertension, your vessels will get damaged. As a result, it’ll be easier for bad cholesterol to get trapped, leading to plaque buildup, inflammation, and heart disease.
“What’s happening is the rest of the body is feeling the effects of the higher pressure,” says Kevin Dunsky, M.D. “The higher it is, the more pounding the body is taking.” While high blood pressure may not be immediately fatal, it will negatively impact your health in the long term.
Some issues may be reversed, but others (such as damage to your kidneys) are permanent. Because of this, you need to start taking care of your pressure now to avoid these damages in the first place.
The Outlook
To take care of your blood pressure, start by minimizing the salt you consume, losing extra weight, and exercising regularly. In some cases, you may need to take prescription medications to help bring your levels down to a normal range.
In addition, you can take daily supplements like L-arginine Plus to give your health an extra boost. Its ingredients are effective at promoting your circulation, blood pressure health, cholesterol health, and more. Give your blood pressure the support it deserves and start living a healthy life and taking L-arginine Plus.