As the heart pumps blood through the veins and arteries, the blood creates pressure against the walls of these blood vessels. Too much pressure means that the blood is being pumped with too much force. Increased blood pressure may damage delicate blood vessels and tissues. Medication is available to lower blood pressure to a normal level.

Normal Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure in an adult is somewhere around 120/80, meaning that the blood pushes against the arteries with a pressure of 120 millimeters of mercury (a pressure measurement) when the heart is actively pumping and with a pressure of 80 millimeters of mercury when the heart is relaxed before the next beat.

High Blood Pressure

The American Heart Association determines high blood pressure (hypertension) to begin at a blood pressure reading of 140/90 and higher. Any readings above 180/110 represent an emergency and should be treated by a health care provider immediately.

Blood Pressure Medication

There are plenty of medications which lower blood pressure and are used as treatment for hypertension. These include muscle relaxants to relax the heart, drugs to slow down the heart beats and diuretics to lower the volume of fluid in the blood vessels (lower volume means lower pressure).

Effectiveness

How much a medication lowers blood pressure depends on the type of medication and how much of it is prescribed. There is no one set formula because every person is different. Some people may have hypertension because of their genes, while others have it because of their diet.

Prevention/Solution

Preventing hypertension may be as easy as eating a diet low in sodium and high in fiber. Nevertheless, there are those for whom hypertension is not related to their diet. In either case, blood pressure should be part of a yearly check up, since hypertension can set in without warning and without obvious symptoms.

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Understanding Blood Pressure Readings