When a doctor takes your blood pressure reading, he gives a fraction. This fraction is the blood pressure reading. The number on top is known as systolic pressure and the number on the bottom is the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure signifies the amount of pressure in the arteries during the contraction of heart muscles. Diastolic pressure signifies the amount of pressure of the heart muscle in between the beats. Both the numbers are important for the determination of the health of your heart.
Normal reading
The normal reading for blood pressure should be 120/80. The systolic pressure must be in the range 90-120 and the diastolic pressure must be in the range 60-80. The American Heart Association considers blood pressure to be normal only when it is in the range. Both the systolic and diastolic readings should be within the above-stated ranges.
Blood pressure readings are usually given in millimeters of mercury. That is, a normal reading would be known as 120/80 mmHg. If you have a normal reading, then you do not need any medical intervention. In order to do so, you must follow a healthy lifestyle. Regular exercise, balanced diet, and weight management can be of great help.
Prehypertension
If your blood pressure reading is more than 120/80 mmHg, then you have to be alert and switch to a healthier lifestyle. You are suffering from prehypertension when the systolic pressure is between the range of 120-139 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is between the ranges of 80- 89 mmHg.
The above-stated numbers are not considered as high blood pressure. But they are beyond the normal range. There is a good chance of prehypertension turning into high blood pressure. You are at a high risk of a stroke and other heart diseases. Pre-hypertension does not require any medication, but you have to start leading a healthy life. A balanced diet, weight loss, and daily exercising will help you bring your blood pressure down to the normal range.
Stage 1 of hypertension
You will be diagnosed with high blood pressure when the systolic pressure is in the range 140-159 mmHg and the diastolic pressure is in the range 90-99 mmHg. This is the stage 1 of hypertension or high blood pressure. Stage 1 of hypertension is usually diagnosed when the blood pressure reading remains high over a long period of time. Your doctor will help you to keep track of your blood pressure reading. He/she will prescribe medications if your blood pressure does not come down after starting a healthy lifestyle.
Stage 2 of hypertension
The second stage of hypertension is when the blood pressure reading shows the systolic pressure as 160 or more and the diastolic pressure is 100 or more. The doctor will prescribe one or two medications to bring down the high blood pressure to the normal level. But you must never rely only on the medications. A change in your daily lifestyle is always recommended to keep your blood pressure in check.
Hypertensive crisis
If the blood pressure reading is more than 180/110 mmHg, then it signifies a serious health issue that needs to be checked immediately. You must go in for an emergency check-up if your blood pressure is that high. It is best to visit the doctor immediately, if you are also experiencing chest pain, sweating, dizziness, blood in urine, and other difficulties.
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6 foods to avoid to manage diabetes
Read moreFood plays an important role in managing diabetes. According to several studies, the most severe and chronic diabetes cases and complications triggered by the condition are caused by the excessive consumption of unhealthy foods. These can increase insulin resistance and heighten blood sugar levels in the body. It is, therefore, important to learn about the foods that can worsen the condition. Here are some of the foods that those with diabetes should avoid.
Flavored coffee drinks
Flavored coffee drinks, unlike regular coffee, are loaded with sugar, carbohydrates, and calories, all of which may lead to an increase in weight and spikes in blood sugar levels. Such complications will eventually lead to a severe form of diabetes and other health conditions, like high blood pressure and cholesterol.Margarine
Margarine is used as a healthy alternative to butter because it is low in saturated fats. However, the food contains high levels of trans fats. These fats may trigger inflammation, increase insulin resistance, and reduce the healthy cholesterol levels in the body.White bread
White bread is a processed food that is rich in carbohydrates. Studies indicate that foods high in carbohydrates may raise blood sugar levels in those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They may also affect brain function, especially in those with type 2 diabetes and mental health issues.Sugary drinks
Drinks like sodas, sweetened ice tea, and lemonade are extremely high in carbohydrates. These drinks also contain excessive fructose levels. These can influence the body to resist insulin and worsen diabetes.Fruit-flavored yogurt
While plain yogurt is suitable for those with diabetes, fruit-flavored yogurt has the opposite effect. Such yogurt is derived from nonfat or low-fat milk with high concentrations of sugar and carbohydrates. So as delicious as fruit-flavored yogurt may taste, one must steer clear of the food to avoid unnecessary spikes in blood sugar and insulin.Dried fruits
Dried fruits, including raisins, prunes, dates, offer several health benefits. Unfortunately, these fruits must be sliced out of meals if one has diabetes. That’s because when the fruit is dried, it loses its water content. The loss of water makes its sugar and nutrient content more concentrated. Therefore, if a person with diabetes eats such dried fruits, they may notice spikes in their blood sugar levels. -
Things you need to know about bad credit personal loans
Read moreEvery year, thousands of people in the country apply for personal loans to meet their financial requirements. Personal loans may be utilized for any purpose and are straightforward and simple in application. Borrowers with a good credit score will have no issues with regard to the application and approval of their personal loan. However, the story is entirely different if you have a bad credit. Nonetheless, it is not impossible.
It is possible to get a bad credit personal loan from various lenders in the market. A score of 550 or lesser than that means a bad credit and most banks and financial institutions will not be willing to lend you money.
Tips to build a credit score
Here are certain steps that you may follow so that you are eligible for a bad credit personal loan.- Rebuild your credit
A credit score of 580 is considered to be fair. Hence, if your score is below that, you need to make efforts to reach the fair score. You will still have to pay a higher interest rate, but you will get access to the funds. You will have to collect your credit report and understand how the score is calculated. Report any errors you notice in the report and take small but consistent steps to improve your credit rating. These steps may include paying your credit cards debt on time, repaying any outstanding loans on time, and so on.
- Contact bad credit lenders
There are various private lenders in the market who offer loans to bad credit holders. Get in touch with them and ask for a quote. The best is to apply for a pre-approval and check whether you qualify or not. Based on the same, you will be able to decide whether or not you may approach the lender.
- Apply for a secured loan
It might become difficult to get an unsecured loan when you have a poor credit score, but you may always apply for a secured loan. There are a number of banks and credit unions that offer secured loans against a hypothecation of an asset. If you own an asset, you may use it for the loan and get funds against the same.
A bad credit score does not mean that you cannot raise funds at all. You might have to put in additional efforts for the same, but it is possible to get a personal loan with a bad credit rating.
- Rebuild your credit