What is the ideal blood pressure reading for someone over 50? If you experience these symptoms, you need to adjust it immediately!

Understanding normal blood pressure readings will help you detect low or high blood pressure early and take corrective measures promptly.

What are considered normal blood pressure readings for someone over 50?

The mean blood pressure reading is the range of blood pressure readings a healthy person typically has. Blood pressure has two main parameters: diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) and systolic blood pressure (the upper number).

Normally, a person's blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day, usually lowest between 1-3 AM and highest between 8-10 AM. Exertion, stress, or strong emotions can all cause blood pressure to rise. Blood pressure will decrease when the body rests and relaxes.

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According to medical experts, blood pressure levels vary depending on age and time of year. As people age, plaque builds up in the artery walls, making them less elastic, which forces the heart to pump blood harder. This prolonged condition leads to increased blood pressure. Therefore, in addition to the optimal blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg, safe blood pressure levels vary depending on age.

According to recommendations, for middle-aged or 50-year-olds, normal blood pressure ranges from 116/81 to 142/89 mmHg (systolic blood pressure from 116 to 142 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 81 to 89 mmHg), with the optimal blood pressure level being 129/85 mmHg.

Why should people over 50 measure their blood pressure regularly to prevent disease?

People in their 50s, or middle age in general, experience many changes in their biological cycle, most notably hormonal changes, making them more susceptible to non-communicable diseases. Therefore, if blood pressure is not managed and checked regularly, it can easily lead to either hypertension or hypotension.

Hypertension : Defined when blood pressure readings are greater than 140/90 mmHg. Because the line between normal and hypertension is very thin, and symptoms of hypertension are minimal, more than 50% of patients are undiagnosed. Meanwhile, hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, cerebral hemorrhage, heart failure, kidney failure, vision loss, and memory impairment.

Low blood pressure : Defined when blood pressure readings are less than 90/60 mmHg. However, low blood pressure includes two types: physiological low blood pressure with no symptoms and pathological low blood pressure with typical symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, headache, lightheadedness, etc., which require treatment.

3 ways to maintain normal blood pressure levels in your 50s

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Maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

Diet plays a significant role in blood pressure stability. A scientific and balanced diet will help the body maintain a healthy weight, reduce the risk of obesity, and prevent high blood lipid levels. Specifically: Ensure a balanced intake of protein, carbohydrates, fiber, fats, vitamins, and minerals; limit salt intake and consumption of salty foods, beverages such as alcohol, beer, coffee, and soft drinks; and avoid tobacco.

Exercise regularly.

Besides a scientific and balanced diet, establishing healthy lifestyle habits and activities is essential to maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Therefore, you should exercise daily for at least 30 minutes each day and always keep a cheerful and relaxed state of mind.

Regular health check-ups

Regular health checkups every six months are extremely important. These checkups not only help detect potential health risks early but also help prevent them. Early detection and treatment of any problems will increase treatment effectiveness. In particular, regular blood pressure checks will help you manage your blood pressure, allowing you to develop appropriate exercise and activity plans to achieve optimal blood pressure levels.

How to measure blood pressure for the most accurate results.

- Sit and rest for 15 minutes before taking the measurement.

- Avoid smoking and drinking coffee 2 hours before the test.

- Measurement posture: Lie on a bed or sit with your back against a chair, feet touching the floor, do not cross your legs, arms extended straight and placed at heart level, remain silent during the measurement.

- When measuring blood pressure for the first time, both arms are used, with the arm showing the higher blood pressure reading being selected for subsequent measurements and monitoring.

- Take two measurements each time, using the same arm, with a 2-minute interval between each measurement. If the systolic blood pressure difference between the two measurements is greater than 10 mmHg, take a third measurement after another 2 minutes. Take the average of the two most recent measurements.

- Patients can measure their blood pressure in the morning or afternoon, or when they experience symptoms of high blood pressure.

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