It is common for blood pressure to fluctuate throughout the day, and stress, exercise, and sleep can all impact. However, if your blood pressure fluctuates considerably and the range goes extremely wide, you may have a problem. These extreme blood pressure fluctuations from time to time have been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death at an early age.
People often wonder why my blood pressure range is so wide. This article discusses why your blood pressure may be high at times and normal at others, and it also advises when to see a healthcare provider.
Measuring Flaws
First, ensure that your blood pressure is indeed changing.
If you utilize a home blood pressure cuff or a grocery store machine, the fluctuations could be inaccurate in how your blood pressure is measured. Home blood pressure monitoring is a good option. However, training is required to ensure that you correctly utilize the equipment. If you haven’t been trained, your results may differ.
Bring your home blood pressure apparatus to your next healthcare appointment to avoid mistakes. Consult your doctor or nurse to ensure that you are using it correctly. You should also bring your readings to the office to check if you receive comparable results.
Some healthcare practitioners recommend ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. That’s where you wear an apparatus at home. The device measures your blood pressure over one or two days. During the day, it checks every 15 to 20 minutes, and at night, it checks every 30 to 60 minutes. This is not always an option. Furthermore, it can be pricey.
Medical Reasons
Experts are investigating why blood pressure varies from one visit to the next. People who experience blood pressure swings may have a blood vessel problem, and the fluctuations in their results may indicate that they are at a higher risk of heart attack or stroke.
Blood pressure variations are seldom caused by pheochromocytoma, a tumor in the adrenal gland. These tumors are not generally cancerous.
Medical Environment
It is not uncommon for your readings to be thrown off simply by being in a medical atmosphere.
White-coat hypertension occurs when a person’s blood pressure is high in a healthcare provider’s office but normal at home. Stress from being in a medical office, according to experts, could be the cause. That’s why nurses will frequently wait for you to rest for five minutes before taking a reading. You could also take your blood pressure twice. The readings should be reviewed again if there is a discrepancy of more than five mmHg.
The converse issue is masked hypertension. It happens when the readings in a doctor’s office are regular, and later, the figures are high. A healthcare physician may propose home monitoring or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring to resolve these difficulties. Home monitoring could also be helpful for:
- Blood pressure measurements that remain high despite increase in medication
- Blood pressure readings that remain low even when medication is taken
If you notice that your blood pressure ranges widely consistently, you should not ignore it. Consult an expert to know the reasons before it becomes chronic and affects other body organs. It is not difficult to get a consultation from an expert now. You can visit Marham to get a consultation from the Best Cardiologist in Lahore.
Risk Factors
If you find occasional high blood pressure readings mixed in with the normal ones, you may have hypertension but have not been diagnosed. Experts are unsure of how high blood pressure develops, and it’s possible because your genes and environment influence how your heart and kidneys function. It could also be caused by atherosclerosis or artery hardening over time.
Some risk factors enhance the chances of having high blood pressure. They are as follows:
- Obesity
- Age
- High sodium diet
- Family History
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Not enough physical activity
Another medical issue can sometimes cause high blood pressure. This is referred to as secondary high blood pressure since it occurs due to a problem elsewhere in your body. Some drugs might potentially cause secondary hypertension.
High blood pressure can be caused by:
- Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) or other breathing issues
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants, and other drugs
- Hormone and endocrine problems
It’s typical for your blood pressure to fluctuate somewhat during the day. The readings from a home blood pressure cuff may be inaccurate, and the same is valid for drugstore supplies.
It’s also likely that your readings will differ because you’re stressed. If this is the case, your doctor may instruct you to check your blood pressure when relaxed for a day or two.
The variances may be due to a medical problem. If you’re not obtaining consistent readings, you should speak with a doctor about it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1- Is it possible to reduce blood pressure by drinking a lot of water?
Making lifestyle changes, such as regular exercise and eating a nutrient-rich diet, can help treat and prevent high blood pressure. Drinking water and being hydrated can also aid in the maintenance of good blood pressure.
2- What actually high blood pressure is?
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a condition in which the long-term force of the blood against your artery walls is high enough to produce health problems such as heart disease.
3- What is the reason for incorrect high blood pressure readings?
Improper blood pressure measurement can result in artificially high readings, such as when the wrong-sized cuff is used, when individuals have severely calcified or arteriosclerotic brachial arteries, or when white-coat hypertension is present.
