So much is said about high blood pressure and the potentially disastrous health consequences if left untreated (heart attack, stroke, blindness, and all sorts of other scary health concerns) that almost everyone over the age of thirty knows at least something about it.
I have written extensively about this, having suffered from high blood pressure in the past, and will continue to do so because it is so treatable.
Many of us have memorized the “bad” range – a blood pressure reading higher than 140/90 equals high blood pressure, or hypertension and a blood pressure reading 120/80 to 139/89 equals pre-hypertension.
What fewer know is that a high systolic blood pressure reading (top number – measuring the force of the blood through the arteries as one’s heart beats) even with a low diastolic blood pressure read can have ill effects on one’s health as well.
What even fewer still don’t know is that a high diastolic reading (bottom number – measuring blood pressure when the heart is at rest) can also be of concern in terms of health.
In fact, after one of my recent posts about systolic high blood pressure, a few of my readers asked specifically about high diastolic blood pressure.
When the diastolic reading is over 90, it’s considered high blood pressure. When the reading is between 80 and 89, it’s considered borderline high diastolic blood pressure, or pre-hypertension.
For most people, as they age, their diastolic blood pressure will go down. This can provide an inaccurate sense of wellness so it’s important to take into account both numbers in a blood pressure reading.
To know for sure if your blood pressure is in a normal range, you should have it checked at least once a year. If it’s high, your doctor is very likely to prescribe some form of prescription medication.
This is why you should be absolutely honest with your doctor. Let him or her know that you are aware of the many negative side effects of prescription medication (ALL of them have them and they aren’t nice – extreme muscle pain, liver damage, headaches, sexual dysfunction, skin rash, nausea and diarrhea to name a few) and discuss a plan to avoid or reduce the amount of medication.
The urge for a “quick fix” is understandable especially with so many people’s busy, yet amazingly sedentary lifestyles. Do keep in mind though that the cure shouldn’t be worse than the disease.
This is why I am so proud to be able to offer my High Blood Pressure program. With simple to do breathing and relaxation mind/body exercises, my clients have seen amazing results quickly. They have the proof (lowered blood pressure readings) to take back to their doctor! If you have high blood pressure, I highly encourage you to try my program now.
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