You know, people and their bodies are not the same as they used to be; one of the aspects that should be monitored with time is the blood pressure. It is a fact that for every person that will live up to the age of 70, something will change with their blood pressure.
But what is the blood pressure of a 70-year-old person, and what can we do to keep it under control?
What is the Blood Pressure of a 70-Year-Old Person?
The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA) released new guidelines for blood pressure targets for elderly individuals. Based on these guidelines, the target value of blood pressure for adults who are 65 years and above should be below 130/80 mmHg.
But other sources point out that for 70-year-olds, these numbers can be a bit higher and range between 121/83 mmHg and 147/91 mmHg.
Risks of High Blood Pressure in Older Adults
Blood pressure is not an inconsequential factor because it tells you the health of arteries. Arteries are vessels of blood circulation that transfer blood to all the body tissues. If they get damaged or become weak, then they present a potential future risk of being associated with conditions more severe than heart disease.
Here are some problems that can come from high blood pressure:
- Heart Attack: This occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to a certain region of the heart.
- Stroke: This happens when there is a choking off of the blood supply to a specific zone in the brain.
- Heart Failure: This means that the heart cannot pump the blood as it should pump it. In order for optimal circulation to occur, the arteries need to remain elastic.
- Chronic Kidney Disease: It should be noted that the kidneys are one of the vital organs, which, under pressure, can cause serious consequences.
- Loss of Vision: This is though not a cause but leads to complications that affect the blood vessels in the eyes.
- Aneurysm: This is an abnormal, localized protrusion in the wall of an artery, which can cause rupture.
- Vascular Dementia: The deletion of blood procedure in the brain is not as healthy and can lead to memory loss and even a change in thinking patterns.
- Chest Pain (Angina): This is a type of pain that results when the organ that you associate with being your life does not receive adequate blood supply.
Potential Risks Associated with Low Blood Pressure
Sometimes BP can go too low, particularly when there is use of some medication. Another condition that may occur without treating the high blood pressure is known as hypotension, which is low blood pressure.
Low blood pressure is regarded as any reading under 90/60 mmHg. You might experience symptoms such as:
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Blurred Vision
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Fainting
While low blood pressure means there may not be enough pressure to push blood to the necessary organs in your body. This can result in shock, which is a severe complication that can potentially be fatal. If you notice any of these signs, seek medical help right away:
- Cold, Clammy Skin
- Fast, Shallow Breathing
- Pale Skin
- Weak Pulse
- Confusion
Monitoring Your Blood Pressure at Home
So, both low and high blood pressure levels are not very healthy, and it is crucial to monitor and maintain normal levels of blood pressure in the body. There is need to watch out for Blood pressures and discuss anything that one feels is odd with a doctor. Here are some tips for getting accurate blood pressure readings at home:
- Ensure you use a quality home blood pressure monitor. Select a model with a big, readable display and an upper arm cuff that matches your arm’s circumference.
- Always ensure you understand the instructions given clearly before embarking on the implementation process. Make sure that the cuff is placed correctly and the patient is seated quietly for minutes before the reading is taken.
- Measure your blood pressure at the same time of the day, it is better to do it before meal and before taking your medication. This will allow you to set and analyze shifts in the baseline response.
- Monitor your readings in a blood pressure log. It will assist you in tracking patterns and can be discussed with the physician during visits.
Lifestyle Changes for Healthy Blood Pressure Management
Lifestyle modifications may be recommendable when it comes to regulating hypertension, without much regard for the patient’s age. Here are some tips:
- Reduce Salt Intake: Reducing on the consumption of sodium is among the most successful strategies that can be used to reduce high blood pressure. Reduce the intake of processed foods and avoid you from adding much salt to the foods you cook.
- Increase Potassium Intake: Potassium supports the efforts of sodium in the body’s process by balancing the undue impacts of the latter. Increase take of bananas, avocados, low fat dairy products and spinach.
- Maintain a Balanced Diet: Use the DASH diet where you take foods that are high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Decrease the intake of saturated fats as well as added sugars.
- Manage Stress: The occurrence of stress can lead to increase in blood pressure. Engage in stress busting activities such as taking a yoga class, meditating or doing deep breathing exercises.
- Stay Active: The physical activity should occur on a daily basis as it positively affects health and decreases blood pressure. Do exercises that make you happy; this could be walking, swimming or even dancing and try to take at least half an hour most of the days.
Last Words
So, it’remain crucial to maintain a normal blood pressure regardless of age. That’s why it becomes even more important as people grow older. It is preferable not to ask questions like “What is the blood pressure of a 70-year-old patient?” Since this depends so much on the individual, it is advisable to ask what is within our reach.
If you adopt good habits of proper dieting, regular physical activity, proper stress handling, periodic medical checkups, your blood pressure will remain under control.
And not only it regulates hypertension, but it also has positive effects for the rest of your organism!