MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE:
Your doctor will measure the Blood Pressure by placing an inflatable cuff around your upper arm using a pressure-measuring gauge.
A blood pressure reading has two numbers, given in millimeters of mercury (e.g. 120/80 mm Hg).
The first number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure).
The second number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).
| Blood Pressure Reading | |
| Normal Blood Pressure | lower than 120/80 mmHg most of the time |
| High blood pressure | 140/90 mmHg or above most of the time. |
| Stage 1 Hypertension | Systolic blood pressure : 140 to 159 Diastolic blood pressure: 90 to 99 |
| Stage 2 Hypertension | Systolic blood pressure: 160 and above Diastolic blood pressure: 100 and above |
Your doctor will diagnose you with hypertension if your blood pressure is above the normal range for up to 5 readings (taken at different visits).
Blood pressure naturally tends to be at its highest during exercise, physical work, or stress, and lowest during sleep.
There is temporary increase in blood pressure at one time or another, which is why it is important to take multiple readings for the final diagnosis of hypertension.
INVESTIGATIONS:
A physician will also advise you to go in for tests to rule out secondary causes of high blood pressure or to gauge the effect of high blood pressure on the body, such as
- Urine test (urinalysis)
- Lipid Profile
- Renal Profile
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) (to read the electric activity of the heart)
