Citizens in the past begin to be aware of the importance of blood pressure control / day
Almost half (46%) of the Latvian population admit that blood pressure is only measured when they have become bad or visiting their GP, thus exposing themselves to a greater risk of cardiovascular disease.
« High blood pressure is an essential risk factor for stroke and it is important to make sure it is controlled. By lowering systolic blood pressure by 10 mmHg, the risk of stroke decreases by about 30 %. It is very important that we really know what the state of health is, ”emphasizes Maris Lapšovs, a cardiologist at P. Stradins Clinical University Hospital and Health Center Association.
« I work at a pharmacy, mostly visited by young people, often asking someone to measure blood pressure because they suddenly take on bad feelings, such as dizzy or hurt. If I see it too high or low after measuring blood pressure, I recommend visiting a family doctor. Also with you on a trip, ”says Irina Korchagina, a pharmacist at the Moon Pharmacy.
In total, only 6 % of Latvia’s population measures blood pressure every day, more than 50 years of age. Several times a week, 11 % of the population is measured by blood pressure, and more often such a habit is among the population of Latgale. 23 % of the survey admitted that they rarely measure blood pressure.
Knowing your readings, blood pressure can be controlled. Hypertension is increasingly affected by young people, but the society is still in the myth that it only affects the elderly. Optimal blood pressure in adult, healthy person has 120/80 mmHg.
What really is – blood pressure?
Blood pressure is a blood flow pressure on the walls of the blood vessels (arteries).
The blood pressure measurement shows two important sizes:
- upper or systolic (SYS) – the maximum pressure that presses the blood on the walls of the blood vessels;
- Lower or diastolic (DIA) – the minimum pressure that presses the blood on the walls of the blood vessels.
Blood pressure monitoring is an important stage in health prevention. Regularly making blood pressure measurements and recording them, the doctor has a useful informative material that helps to draw conclusions by determining or clarifying the diagnosis. The result of blood pressure measurements gives a unique opportunity to learn about the deficiencies and abnormalities of the body.
