Take the tension, what's the point?
Low voltage and high voltage
Can a low tension explain my fatigue?
Can discomfort be due to a tension problem?
What symptoms can alert me to hypertension?
Hypertension!
A self-measuring device at home?
Take the tension, what's the point?
It is a good reflection of the health of his heart and his arteries, in addition to the auscultation of the heart and the taking of the pulse. And since it is an easy test to make, it would be a shame to deprive oneself of it.
Why are two numbers always associated?
When you get your blood pressure , you measure the blood pressure in your arteries . The first number given by the doctor corresponds to this measurement at the moment when the heart contracts to eject the blood. This is called systolic pressure and, in normal times, it does not exceed 13.5. The second digit is the measurement made when the heart expands (diastolic pressure) and when all is well, this figure does not exceed 8.5.
Do they have the same importance?
Yes. For years, we focused on the second digit, because it was thought that it was abnormal that the pressure increased when the heart was dilated. Today, pressure that increases too much when it contracts will also arouse the doctor's attention.
Is the gap between the two revealing?
No, what matters most is the isolated numbers. Only the context (are you subject to hypertension ?) And the associated risks ( diabetes , overweight , smoking ...) can alert your doctor about fluctuations in the gap.
Low voltage and high voltage
Is it serious if the doctor finds me a high tension (15-9 for example) during a consultation?
Not necessarily, because the blood pressure fluctuates during the day and increases if you just smoke, have a coffee, if you are stressed, etc. If you waited more than an hour before receiving or impressing you, this is enough to increase your blood pressure for a few minutes and therefore to skew the numbers! This is also the reason why at least 3 abnormal measurements are needed several days apart and at different times before talking about high blood pressure .
And if it finds me a low tension (for example 10-6), it's worrying?
No, 10-6, it's even normal for a young woman! The case of "orthostatic" hypotension is different: the tension drops only when going from a lying or sitting position to a standing position. There may even be dizziness. The solution is to get up smoothly and put on tights if the symptoms persist. Medications are not very effective.
Can a low tension explain my fatigue?
No, but if it is lower than usual, it may reveal another problem ... It will probably check on the side of your red blood cells . If you are short of iron and have anemia like more than 20% of women before menopause, that may explain chronic fatigue and even lower tension than usual. There are many other causes of chronic fatigue (hypothyroidism, sleep disorders, double women's day, etc.) ...
Is low voltage a sign of longevity?
Yes, because rising blood pressure decreases life expectancy by increasing the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke !
Can discomfort be due to a tension problem?
Most of the small discomforts that can be done as young are due to either a drop in blood sugar - the classic " hypoglycemia " in the morning when we jump (wrongly) breakfast - or to discomfort vagal due, for example, to a very strong emotion. If you get the tension at the moment of discomfort, it is bad (too low or too high depending on the case). This does not mean that you are hypo or hypertensive.
What symptoms can alert me to hypertension?
Very often, none! Most arterial hypertension changes for years without giving any warning. This is the reason why, of the 14 million hypertensives in our country, half do not know it! In order to detect it in time, the main thing is that your doctor will take it correctly (several days apart and at different times) once a year. Especially if you are over 60 (over 50 for a man), if there are hypertensives in your family, a personal history of diabetes or high cholesterol , if you are a smoker or overweight. If you have none of these risk factors, a good measure every 2 or 3 years is enough.
Hypertension!
Is hypertension inherited?
There are families of hypertensives because there are genetic predispositions, and also because the bad habits related to the hygiene of life are often taken in family! The French Federation of Cardiology has published a booklet "Hypertension, a family history" downloadable on www.comitehta.org.
How is hypertension treated?
A healthy lifestyle, sports (during exercise, peripheral arteries expand and are more likely to remain flexible). If other cardiovascular risk factors are associated, you will need medication, certainly for life.
A self-measuring device at home?
It is essential if there is a hypertensive in the family. You must follow certain rules, such as measuring your blood pressure three times in the morning (before any treatment) and at bedtime after ten minutes of rest for three days in a row ("three" rule). An average of these numbers is more valuable to the physician than an isolated figure. No need to take it too often: just before a consultation for example if you are followed for your tension ...
