

The second number is when the heart relaxes and allows the blood to flow back into the heart – this is called diastolic pressure. when the heart muscle squeezes out the blood – this is called systolic pressure. The first number records blood pressure when the pressure is at its highest i.e. Treatment and detection is very possible but it starts with you.īlood pressure is measured by two numbers If it’s not treated or kept under control, it is one of the major risk factors for heart disease and stroke. High blood pressure (or hypertension) usually has no symptoms. Our blood pressure is simply the amount of work that our hearts have to do to pump our blood around the body.

So it’s fair to say we can safely extrapolate that up as there will be a good number of adults who have hypertension but are not medicated, which is how we get to the one in five figure.Everyone has blood pressure. Furthermore, the figure is only an estimate of the number of people with hypertension that are medicated, with the latest estimate given at 16.1% of the NZ adult population. Contact us for more information: to Mau Moananu's story and why he urges everyone to get their blood pressure checked regularly:ġ The NZ Health Survey (which we base the one in five figure on) is based on a sample of 13,000 adults, they have not surveyed all New Zealanders and therefore it is only an estimate of the prevalence. Increasingly New Zealanders are monitoring their own blood pressure using battery operated digital monitors. If you think you have high blood pressure, get a check. Tips to control your blood pressure and reduce your risk of stroke A diagnosis of high blood pressure requires more than one reading. Here's a table that will help you understand your blood pressure results. Your doctor can also help with medicine to address the issue.īlood pressure tends to rise as we get older and can run in families. Obviously cutting out tobacco products will benefit you, as will keeping your alcohol intake low. Sometimes, lifestyle changes around a better diet or more exercise will help. High blood pressure is serious but can be treated.

#WOMAN BLOOD PRESSURE CHART FREE#
The Stroke Foundation provided 17,918 free blood pressure checks to New Zealanders across the country in the last 12 months.Ī blood pressure check is quick and painless. High blood pressure is when it is consistently around or over 140/90. Normal blood pressure is around 120/80 (said as "one-twenty over eighty") or lower. It often involves a cuff being placed around your arm and inflated - it feels tight but doesn't hurt. Your doctor will be able to carry one out for you, as well as some chemists. 1Ī blood pressure check is quick and painless. Recent research estimates a third of these people don't know it as high blood pressure often has no symptoms. One in five New Zealanders experience high blood pressure. A person with high blood pressure is up to seven times more likely to have a stroke than someone with normal or low blood pressure. High blood pressure is the number one modifiable risk factor for stroke. It puts too much pressure and stress on the walls of blood vessels and increases the risk of both bleeds and blood clots. Getting regular blood pressure checks can be your best defence against stroke.
