How bad is this blood pressure?

Question

I work at a pharmacy and there is one of those blood pressure machines that I use often to check my blood pressure. Usually, these are the results:

Diastolic - 140
Systolic - 75
BPM - 55

I know that a healthy blood pressure is 120/80, so the 140 concerns me. Is that too high, and should I see a doctor? I am 21 years old and in otherwise good health, exercise regularly and follow a moderately healthy diet. I do eat too much sodium, and I know that's something I need to work on.

I think that my heart rate is low because I do a lot of cardio training, and HIIT (high intensity interval training).

Answer 1

The BP you have is pretty good. The only number you have to worry about is your Systolic. If it is 90 or better than you have high blood pressure. The Diastolic of 140 is pretty normal in most people.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Your resting heart rate could be indicative of your training regimen. If you partake in aerobic training on a regular basis, it shouldn't worry you much.

Also, remember that when you're getting a reading, you're often sitting down in a stationary position, for a number of minutes. This will generally result in a low relative heart rate as theres very little skeletal demand on the body.

In terms of your blood pressure, those that receive a reading above 140 for systolic on two or more occasions by a professional may be seen as hypertensive.
Your blood pressure is affected by many factors including Sodium levels, hydration (which works hand in hand with sodium), stress levels, physical demand and so forth.

I would recommend that you record the time of day for your readings and get a few per day. Try that for a week and see if you consistently get the same results.
For instance, if you work from 9 to 5 from Monday to Friday,
get a reading every morning at 9, every lunch time (say 1 pm?) and at 5 when you're about to go home.

Your diastolic (75) doesn't seem alarming at all. It is normal to have a diastolic level below 80.

If in doubt, don't hesitate to visit a doctor to ease your mind and get rid of the unwanted anxiety.

Best of luck.

Answer 4

Blood pressure can fluctuate quite a lot day to day. Since you're otherwise in good health, I don't think you have too much to be concerned about. Just keep checking it, track your trends, and see what your average blood pressure is. If you're under a lot of stress your blood pressure could be higher than normal. If you're really concerned, you could see a doctor, but I think you're probably just fine. 55 for a resting heart rate in a 21 year old is pretty low though. Keep an eye on that too.

Answer 5

The definition of high blood pressure has narrowed in an effort to treat early hypertension. You should monitor your pressure and if it remains the same, get a check up. Sounds like you are pretty healthy otherwise. The risk factors you cannot control are sex and family history.

Answer 6

Error. Please check your blood pressure once again. Blood pressure ia written as systolic / diastolic mm of mercury (Hg). Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. You have wriiten as 75/140 mm Hg. I think that you have interchanged the figures. If 140 is taken as systolic blood pressure, then you have got Stage 1 Hypertension.
Normal pulse rate is 60 to 100 (for resting heart rate). Well-trained athletes; 40 to 60 beats per minute. If you are a well trained athlete, then your pulse rate is OK.
Bradycardia, as applied to adult medicine, is defined as a resting heart rate of under 60 beats per minute, though it is seldom symptomatic until the rate drops below 50 beat/min. Trained athletes tend to have slow resting heart rates, and resting bradycardia in athletes should not be considered abnormal if the individual has no symptoms associated with it.
Self-care
* Lifestyle changes can help you control and prevent high blood pressure — even if you're taking blood pressure medication. Here's what you can do:
* Eat healthy foods. Try the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy foods. Get plenty of potassium, which can help prevent and control high blood pressure. Eat less saturated fat and total fat. Limit the amount of sodium in your diet. Although 2,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day is the current limit for otherwise healthy adults, limiting sodium intake to 1,500 mg a day will have a more dramatic effect on your blood pressure.
* Maintain a healthy weight. If you're overweight, losing even 5 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
* Increase physical activity. Regular physical activity can help lower your blood pressure and keep your weight under control. Strive for at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
* Limit alcohol. Even if you're healthy, alcohol can raise your blood pressure. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation — up to one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men.
* Don't smoke. Tobacco injures blood vessel walls and speeds up the process of hardening of the arteries. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit.
* Manage stress. Reduce stress as much as possible. Practice healthy coping techniques, such as muscle relaxation and deep breathing. Getting plenty of sleep can help, too.
* Practice slow, deep breathing. Do it on your own or try device-guided paced breathing. In various clinical trials, regular use of Resperate — an over-the-counter device approved by the Food and Drug Administration to analyze breathing patterns and help guide inhalation and exhalation — significantly lowered blood pressure.
Please see the web pages for more details on Blood pressure, Heart rate (Pulse), Hypertension and Bradycardia.

Answer 7

Those machines are inherently unreliable, I wouldn't use them for any diagnostic decisions. Get someone to do your bp. 140 is high. It is the cutoff for hypertension.

Answer 8

If either the top OR the bottom # is high, that is hypertension.