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2. Important information on blood pressure and its measurement
2.1. How does high/low blood pressure arise?
Your level of blood pressure is determined in a part of the brain called the cir-
culatory center. This part of your brain responds to a situation through feedback
with the nervous system.To adjust the blood pressure, the strength and fre-
quency of the heart (Pulse) as well as the width of circulatory blood vessels is
altered. Blood vessel width is altered by fine muscles in the blood vessel walls.
The level of arterial blood pressure changes periodically during heart activity:
During blood ejection from the heart (Systole) the value is maximal (systolic
blood pressure value). At the end of the heart’s ‘rest period’, Diastole or dias-
tolic blood pressure value, blood pressure falls to a low value. Blood pressure
values must lie within certain normal ranges in order to prevent particular dis-
eases.
2.2 Which values are normal?
Blood pressure is too high if at rest, your diastolic pressure is above 90mmHg
and/or the systolic blood pressure is over 160mmHg.
You should bring these
values to the attention of your doctor immediately. Long-term values at
this level endanger your health due to the associated advancing dam-
age to the blood vessels in your body.
Should the systolic blood pressure values lie between 140mmHg and
160mmHg and/or the diastolic blood pressure values between
90mmHg and 95mmHg, please consult your doctor, and check your
blood pressure regularly.
With blood pressure values that are too low, i.e. systolic values under
105mmHg and/or diastolic values under 60mmHg, please consult your
doctor.
