For as long as you can remember, almost every doctor’s visit has started with a cuff on your arm to measure your blood pressure. Every few years, your routine bloodwork from your annual physical shows the results of a cholesterol test. And between doctors’ appointments, TV commercials, and even internet memes, you’ve heard about the importance of lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
So, what exactly is considered “high”? What do blood pressure and cholesterol numbers actually mean?
Also read: American Heart Month: Heart Health FAQs
The 101 on Blood Pressure and Cholesterol
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your artery walls. Cholesterol is a type of fat in your blood that helps your body function. Both blood pressure and cholesterol can be dangerous if they get too high.
The risk factors for high blood pressure and high cholesterol are very similar. In most cases, they are caused by unhealthy lifestyle habits or conditions, such as:
- Not getting enough physical activity
- Eating an unhealthy diet
- Smoking
- Being obese or overweight
- Diabetes
Genetics and older age can also increase your risk for either condition.
Getting checked and starting treatment if your blood pressure or cholesterol are too high is critical for your health. Untreated, both can increase your risk for life-threatening complications like heart attack or stroke.
Also read: Getting To the Heart of the Matter
Behind the Numbers: High Blood Pressure
What the Numbers Mean
When your provider says that your blood pressure is a number over another number, they’re talking about your systolic over your diastolic pressure.
- Systolic blood pressure is the higher number. It’s the force that your heart produces while pumping blood out to the rest of your body.
- Diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number. This is how much pressure there is in your blood vessels while your heart muscle rests between heartbeats.
Have you gotten your blood pressure and cholesterol checked recently? Want to learn more about healthy numbers? Schedule an appointment with your Quincy Medical Group primary care provider.
Providers tend to focus on the systolic pressure number a little more, since that one offers more clues about your risk for heart disease. However, that doesn’t mean that diastolic blood pressure can be ignored – especially if you’re on the younger side. Recent research shows that in people under age 50, diastolic pressure provides additional information about heart disease risk.
Understanding Your Numbers
If you’ve heard that 120⁄80 is the magic number, you’re on the right track. Here is the general rule of thumb when it comes to blood pressure numbers:
*Hypertensive crisis is a sudden and severe increase in blood pressure. It’s a medical emergency, so call your provider right away or call 911 if you have symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath.
When Blood Pressure Is Too Low
It’s also possible for your blood pressure to be too low (hypotension). Low blood pressure can sometimes be the result of existing heart conditions, like heart failure or an abnormally low heart rate. Fortunately, it’s usually not harmful. But if it causes symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting, it can be a bit more concerning. In these cases, blood pressure can become severely low or stay low for a long time, and can cause heart damage.
Since the cause of low blood pressure can often be pinpointed, treatment involves addressing the underlying cause.
Behind the Numbers: High Cholesterol
What the Numbers Mean
There are a few different numbers that will show up on your cholesterol test results. The four main ones are:
- LDL (low-density lipoprotein): Also known as “bad” cholesterol, high levels of LDL can cause plaque to build up in your arteries, which can lead to strokes or heart attacks.
- HDL (high-density lipoprotein): Also known as “good” cholesterol, HDL helps your body clear out unneeded cholesterol.
- Total cholesterol: This is the total of both LDL and HDL.
- Triglycerides: These are fats that can increase your risk for stroke or heart attack.
You might also see a “non-HDL cholesterol” result. This number also includes other types of cholesterol, like very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL).
Understanding Your Numbers
What’s normal for you might not be normal for someone else – ideal cholesterol numbers are based on factors like your age, sex, ethnicity, and medical conditions. But for the most part, normal numbers are:
When Cholesterol Is Too Low
There’s good news if your cholesterol is low. For the most part, the lower the better when it comes to cholesterol. Very low cholesterol has been linked to some health problems, like diabetes or hemorrhagic stroke, but it may actually be the result of those problems – not the cause of them.
The Next Steps
First and foremost, get tested. In most cases, neither high blood pressure nor high cholesterol cause symptoms, and the only way to know you have them is to get tested.
For both conditions, changing your lifestyle can often go a long way. Adopting a heart-healthy diet, limiting alcohol, getting plenty of physical activity, quitting smoking, and actively managing other health conditions that affect blood pressure or cholesterol are some of the main forms of treatment. In some cases, your provider might also recommend taking medication.
Also read: Salt, Sodium, And Hypertension- Oh My!
Remember, as with many medical conditions, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to treatment. The best way to determine your ideal numbers and the best way to treat high blood pressure or cholesterol is to work directly with your provider.
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I practice evidence based medicine, following the most recent guidelines and research, but tailor my recommendations to meet each of my patients needs factoring in their specific health and environment.
