Biometric Screening: Blood Pressure
A biometric screening is a set of laboratory tests and body measurements that help determine metabolic health. Many Americans complete a biometric screening annually, at their doctor’s office, a convenience clinic or perhaps even at their worksite. But many never receive much guidance around the results. This post is part of a five part series that will help you interpret your results and determine whether you need to take action to improve your metabolic health.
Part One: Blood Pressure
Part One: Blood Pressure
What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is actually two measurements, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
Systolic blood pressure is the pressure against the walls of your arteries when your heart is pumping. It is the first number in the blood pressure reading. It’s larger because pressure will be higher when the blood is actively being pushed through the blood vessels.
Diastolic blood pressure is the pressure against the walls of your arteries when your heart is between beats. It is the second number in the blood pressure reading, and it’s always the smaller number.
Blood pressure can go up for a number of reasons.
There is less space in the arteries for the blood to pass through.
One reason for narrowed arteries is the buildup of plaque. If the artery walls become damaged, it’s the immune system’s job to repair them, much like it repairs a cut on your skin. If the immune system is hyperactive this repair process can lead to large scabs, known as plaques, that narrow and potentially block the artery.
Another reason for narrowed arteries is stress. When we are stressed, hormones are released that cause blood vessels to stiffen and narrow. This is temporary, but chronic stress can make this a near constant condition.
There is more blood volume that needs to pass through the arteries.
The main reason for increased blood volume is a high sodium diet. If there is extra sodium in the blood after a high salt meal, extra water will be pulled into the bloodstream to dilute it. However, the majority of people (approximately 75%) will excrete the salt in the urine so efficiently that blood pressure does not rise as a result.
What should your blood pressure be?
Normal
Systolic less than 120 AND…
Diastolic less than 80
Elevated
Systolic between 120-129 AND…
Diastolic less than 80
High Blood Pressure
Systolic between 130-180 OR…
Diastolic between 80-120
Hypertensive Crisis
Systolic greater than 180 AND/OR…
Diastolic greater than 120
Should You Worry?
Chronically high blood pressure combined with other risk factors can put a lot of strain on your heart (heart attack), brain (stroke), kidneys (kidney failure requiring dialysis) and eyes (retinopathy leading to blurred or lost vision).
It’s important to note that most people cannot “feel” their high blood pressure, so having it checked regularly is important. It’s a non-invasive, painless test, and it can even be done at home or at many pharmacies. Home testing is especially helpful if you suspect that the stress of a doctor visit causes your blood pressure to temporarily spike.
What should you do?
Interventions should be targeted at the root causes, so the goal is to keep blood vessels flexible and keep your blood volume in check.
Improve blood vessel flexibility by…
Keeping stress at bay - consider meditation, therapy, yoga or any other technique that helps you minimize stress
Avoiding seed oils like vegetable oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, canola oil and corn oil - they promote inflammation and plaque formation in the blood vessels
Eating more anti-inflammatory foods such as fish, berries and vegetables
Incorporating regular aerobic (cardio) exercise into your routine
Talking to your doctor about medications such as nitrates
Keep your blood volume in check by…
Decreasing sodium (mainly found in restaurant and processed foods) and increasing potassium (mainly found in fruits and vegetables)
Talking to your doctor about medications such as diuretics
It’s helpful to have a care team on your side that can help you create a plan that is tailored to you. Click here to learn more about working with Tera to improve your metabolic health today.