An important part of taking care of yourself is keeping your blood pressure under control. High blood pressure -- also called hypertension -- raises your risk for heart attack, stroke, eye problems, and kidney disease. As many as two out of three adults with diabetes have high blood pressure. Having your blood pressure checked regularly and taking action to reach your blood pressure target can prevent or delay diabetes problems.
What is blood pressure?
Everybody has — and needs — blood pressure. Without it, blood can't circulate through the body. And without circulating blood, vital organs can't get the oxygen and food that they need to work. So it's important to know about blood pressure and how to keep it within a healthy level. Normal blood pressure falls within a range; it's not one set of numbers.
When the heart beats, it contracts and pumps blood to the arteries and creates pressure in them. This pressure (blood pressure) results from two forces. The first force is created as blood pumps into the arteries and through the circulatory system. The second is created as the arteries resist the blood flow.
If you're healthy, your arteries are muscular and elastic. They stretch when your heart pumps blood through them. How much they stretch depends on how much force the blood exerts.
What do blood pressure numbers indicate?
The higher (systolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is contracting and pumping blood.
The lower (diastolic) number represents the pressure when the heart is resting between contractions.
The systolic pressure is always stated first and the diastolic pressure second. For example: 138/86 (138 over 86); systolic = 138, diastolic = 86.
Your heart beats about 60 to 80 times a minute under normal conditions. Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats.
Your blood pressure can change from minute to minute, with changes in posture, exercise or sleeping,
Your blood pressure should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) for an adult.
Blood pressure that stays between 120–139/80–89 is called prehypertension
Blood pressure that stays between 140/90 mm Hg or higher is considered high (hypertension).
Your doctor may take several readings over time before deciding whether your blood pressure is high.
What is the recommended target for blood pressure in Diabetes?
Both diabetes and high blood pressure increases your risk of heart attack, stroke, and eye and kidney disease. Because of this, people with diabetes have a lower blood pressure target than the general public. Lower the blood pressure lesser the chance of complication.
The current recommended target for blood pressure in Diabetes is less than 130/80 mmHg. When you keep your blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg, you'll be lowering your risk for diabetes problems.
How will I know if I have high blood pressure?
High blood pressure is a silent killer.It will not produce headache,giddiness or anger.
Only you will know when you measure it.
Most probably you won't know you have it unless your doctor/nurse checks your blood pressure and finds out. It is recommended that you have your blood pressure checked at every visit to your Clinic, or at least two to four times a year.
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