What Does High Blood Pressure Mean
The risk of high blood pressure increases as you age.
What does high blood pressure mean. It becomes a concern if you start to exhibit symptoms of dizziness shortness of breath or fainting. Stage 2 high blood pressure indicates an even more serious condition. Blood pressure fluctuates naturally throughout the day and tends to increase around the time a person wakes up. High blood pressure also called hypertension is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood out to the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries or atherosclerosis.
Until about age 64 high blood pressure is more common in men. Low blood pressure is defined by a blood pressure reading of 90 60 mm hg or lower but a reading this low isn t necessarily a cause for concern. Everyone s blood pressure will be slightly different. High blood pressure is particularly common among people of african heritage often developing at an earlier age than it does in whites.
What does the diastolic blood pressure number mean. Blood pressure readings between 120 80mmhg and 140 90mmhg could mean you re at risk of developing high blood pressure if you do not take steps to keep your blood pressure under control. If this happens you should seek medical attention. The diastolic reading or the bottom number is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
Women are more likely to develop high blood pressure after age 65.