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Is Blood Pressure Of 150/100 A Cause For Concern?
Question: I walked down 2 floors and got my BP checked. It came 150/100. I also had one packet of salted chips previous night. I slept only 3.5 hrs only previous night.
Is it a reading I should worry about. My age is 40 years , do not drink or smoke and pure vegetarian. My recent lipid test reading was ,
Total cholesterol 170, ldl 114, hdl 35, trigyes-115.
Is it a reading I should worry about. My age is 40 years , do not drink or smoke and pure vegetarian. My recent lipid test reading was ,
Total cholesterol 170, ldl 114, hdl 35, trigyes-115.
Brief Answer:
Single reading not be worried about
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
There can be physiological variations in BP due to many factors like exercise, increased salt, etc. Thus a single recording of raised BP isn't something to be worried about.
If you get raised BP on atleast 3 different occasions on different days then I will worry about it. Even then I will start you on healthy lifestyle for atleast 6 months before considering medicines.
So you can relax.
Hope it clears your doubt. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Single reading not be worried about
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.
There can be physiological variations in BP due to many factors like exercise, increased salt, etc. Thus a single recording of raised BP isn't something to be worried about.
If you get raised BP on atleast 3 different occasions on different days then I will worry about it. Even then I will start you on healthy lifestyle for atleast 6 months before considering medicines.
So you can relax.
Hope it clears your doubt. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
should I follow a good lifestyle with minimum or no salt, regular walk, avoid stress and then get it rechecked or normally get it rechecked in few days without lifestyle changes? and how a normal position is achived to check BP so that correct reading gets captured?
Brief Answer:
Yes follow lifestyle and then check
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Yes it is good thing to follow lifestyle changes. It will help your cardiovascular system on long term.
You can keep checking the BP weekly and see how it goes with lifestyle.
It is very common to have error during blood pressure measurement. Therefore steps to follow to get the actual BP reading are as follows:
- The blood pressure should be measured twice after atleast 5-10 min of rest with patient in supine position (lying down), or seated with back straight and supported
- Take reading from both arms
- Arm should be at level of heart
- Cuff should be at level of manometer (if mercury)
- no clothes on arm
- wrist monitors are inaccurate, avoid those
-standard cuff size to be used in average individuals. In overweight individuals, large cuff size to be used
- Yes tea, coffee, caffeine drinks, tobacco, alcohol, any medicines, high salt is to be avoided atleast 4-6 hours before reading
Hope it helps.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Yes follow lifestyle and then check
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Yes it is good thing to follow lifestyle changes. It will help your cardiovascular system on long term.
You can keep checking the BP weekly and see how it goes with lifestyle.
It is very common to have error during blood pressure measurement. Therefore steps to follow to get the actual BP reading are as follows:
- The blood pressure should be measured twice after atleast 5-10 min of rest with patient in supine position (lying down), or seated with back straight and supported
- Take reading from both arms
- Arm should be at level of heart
- Cuff should be at level of manometer (if mercury)
- no clothes on arm
- wrist monitors are inaccurate, avoid those
-standard cuff size to be used in average individuals. In overweight individuals, large cuff size to be used
- Yes tea, coffee, caffeine drinks, tobacco, alcohol, any medicines, high salt is to be avoided atleast 4-6 hours before reading
Hope it helps.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
U suggested to check it weekly. Whatâ if my BP keeps increasing in next 6 days and may be to a level where there is risk of life. I mean how doesâ this BP work in terms of going up and down? and how any one is at risk of heart attack or stroke because of the fluctuations in the readings?
Brief Answer:
Natural mechanisms control BP in normal range
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Sorry for late reply as I was busy with my other professional obligations.
Natural (physiological) mechanisms in body keep these parameters in normal range. BP is controlled by complex mechanisms and is kept in control. If it raises to abnormal levels, certain mechanisms are activated in body that bring it down.
If there is sudden increase in BP due to some stress, etc then it may cause stroke. Heart attack is less likely to happen. Heart is usually damaged when BP is raised consistently.
Your BP is hardly over the edge. It is just one isolated reading. Therefore very less chance of it going to dangerous levels.
Home based BP monitoring can help you monitor at home on daily basis. You can get a digital/automated BP machine for this purpose. Or for more accurate reading, your doctor can record it for you.
Lifestyle measures have been recommended by WHO and many other national and international guidelines to control hypertension. Isolated BP reading of 150/100 is not worrisome and is not counted as hypertension.
Lifestyle changes suggested by these guidelines are:
• Smoking Cessation
• Control blood glucose and lipids
• Diet
-Eat healthy (i.e., DASH diet)
-Moderate alcohol consumption
-Reduce sodium intake to no more than 2,400 mg/day
• Physical activity
-Moderate-to-vigorous activity 3-4 days a week averaging 40 min per session.
Hope its more clear. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Natural mechanisms control BP in normal range
Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Sorry for late reply as I was busy with my other professional obligations.
Natural (physiological) mechanisms in body keep these parameters in normal range. BP is controlled by complex mechanisms and is kept in control. If it raises to abnormal levels, certain mechanisms are activated in body that bring it down.
If there is sudden increase in BP due to some stress, etc then it may cause stroke. Heart attack is less likely to happen. Heart is usually damaged when BP is raised consistently.
Your BP is hardly over the edge. It is just one isolated reading. Therefore very less chance of it going to dangerous levels.
Home based BP monitoring can help you monitor at home on daily basis. You can get a digital/automated BP machine for this purpose. Or for more accurate reading, your doctor can record it for you.
Lifestyle measures have been recommended by WHO and many other national and international guidelines to control hypertension. Isolated BP reading of 150/100 is not worrisome and is not counted as hypertension.
Lifestyle changes suggested by these guidelines are:
• Smoking Cessation
• Control blood glucose and lipids
• Diet
-Eat healthy (i.e., DASH diet)
-Moderate alcohol consumption
-Reduce sodium intake to no more than 2,400 mg/day
• Physical activity
-Moderate-to-vigorous activity 3-4 days a week averaging 40 min per session.
Hope its more clear. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Dr Vaishalee
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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