Blood Pressure Calculator

Blood Pressure Reading

• Emergency: > 180/120mmHg
• High: Stage 2 Hypertension: > 160/100mmHg
• High: Stage 1 Hypertension: > 140/90mmHg
• Pre Hypertension: 120/80mmHg - 140/90mmHg
• Normal Blood Pressure: 90/60mmHg - 120/80mmHg
• Low Blood Pressure: < 90/60mmHg

Low blood pressure (hypotension) is not usually a problem, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people. High blood pressure (hypertension) can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it's not treated.

High Blood Pressure: Causes, Symptoms, Health Tips

Blood pressure is determined by two things: the amount of blood the heart pumps and how hard it is for the blood to move through the arteries. The more blood the heart pumps and the narrower the arteries, the higher the blood pressure.

There are many causes of high blood pressure. For many people, high blood pressure is due to an unhealthy diet that is too high in saturated fats and trans fats. As you grow older, plaque buildup narrows your arteries and makes them stiffer. These changes make it harder for blood to flow through them. There are some medical conditions that can also affect your blood pressure levels:

• Adrenal gland tumors
• Blood vessel problems present at birth, also called congenital heart defects
• Cough and cold medicines, some pain relievers, birth control pills, and other prescription drugs Illegal drugs, such as cocaine and amphetamines
• Kidney disease
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Thyroid problems
• Pregnancy
• Kids can have high blood pressure too, which may be caused by problems with the kidneys or heart

Possible implications of high blood pressure:

• Aneurysm
• Diabetes
• Heart diseases
• Kidney problems
• Eye problems
• Metabolic syndrome
• Dementia, changes with memory or understanding

Checking blood pressure at home regularly to see if your new prescribed medications may have side effects and cause high blood pressure (white coat hypertension). In these cases, your blood pressure may return to normal once you stop taking the medicine or drug. Medicines that can increase your blood pressure include:

• the contraceptive pill
• steroids
• some pharmacy cough and cold remedies
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - such as ibuprofen, aspirin and naproxen
• some herbal remedies - particularly those containing liquorice
• some recreational drugs - such as cocaine and amphetamines
• some selective serotonin - noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SSNRI) antidepressants - such as venlafaxine

If your blood pressure is consistently high, you may have to control it with lifestyle changes. Your doctor might suggest you:

• Get more exercise
• Sleep 7- 9 hours daily
• Maintain healthy weight
• Stop smoking and using alcohol products
• Eat heart-healthy diet (less salt, reduce animal fats, more unsaturated fats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains)

If lifestyle changes don’t lower your numbers enough, you may have resistant hypertension. Your doctor may recommend you take medications to control it daily, always take blood pressure medicines as prescribed. If you skip doses because of cost, side effects or forgetfulness, talk to your doctor about a more effective treatment plan. Don't change your treatment without your doctor’s guidance.