Atracare Health is answering your questions in a series we call “Between Two Patients”.

In this episode, Chris and Dr. Will discuss frequently asked questions relating to Blood Pressure and explain the benefits and risks to your whole body health.

Topics covered in this video include:

Why is Getting My Blood Pressure Checked Important? 

If you haven’t been to the doctor in a while, you may not know where you stand with your blood pressure. A lot of patients come into our walk-in clinic for other reasons and find out that their blood pressure is too high or low.  Getting your blood pressure checked is important because hypertension doesn’t usually cause any signs or symptoms. It is known as the silent killer. Having your blood pressure checked regularly will allow you to catch high blood pressure before it can damage your body. 

How is Blood Pressure Taken? 

When you come into the doctor’s office for a blood pressure check, they will have you sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your arm at your side. Your doctor will use the blood pressure cuff to measure your systolic and diastolic pressure. They will place a stethoscope on your artery to listen to your heart. 

What Do My Numbers Mean? 

The top number is your systolic blood pressure. It measures the pressure of your blood when your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure. It indicates the pressure when your heart is at rest. 

What is Considered Good Blood Pressure? 

The gold standard for blood pressure is 120 over 80, but everyone is different. Some people naturally have slightly higher or lower blood pressure. It’s when numbers go very low or very high that organ and tissue damage can occur. That’s why it is important to have your blood pressure checked regularly.

How Can I Lower My Blood Pressure? 

When your blood pressure is high, it has a negative impact on all your vital organs. Your blood touches every organ in your body, so it’s important to get it down to a healthy level. Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise are the two best things you can do to lower your blood pressure. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you get your numbers down. It’s also important to avoid substances like caffeine that raise blood pressure. 

What Causes Low Blood Pressure?

Blood is a surrogate for oxygen. When you increase your blood pressure, you increase blood flow and increase oxygen. When your blood pressure is low, you may feel tired and lightheaded because you are not getting enough oxygen to your organs.

Most of your blood goes to your legs because of gravity. Your skeletal muscles work to push the blood back up. If you have low blood pressure, your heart has to work harder to pump the blood back up. Wearing compression socks can help push the blood from your legs back up through your body. Many ICU patients who are very sick experience dilated blood vessels and low blood pressure. They often have to take medications to increase their blood pressure. 

Text Us to Schedule a Blood Pressure Check

Atracare’s texting feature makes it easy and quick for patients to schedule an appointment. Our phone lines are experiencing high call volumes, so texting the number on our website is the fastest way to get an appointment with us. We are your premier partner in health for all of your medical needs.  Text us today to set up a time to get your blood pressure checked! 302-517-1385