Do you monitor your blood pressure at home or visit a doctor to measure it? You might observe a significant rise or drop in the reading with just a change in place. This is just one instance. Your blood pressure fluctuates many times in a day.
Is it normal? We are glad you asked this question. Yes, it is normal for your BP to fluctuate. There is nothing to be worried about unless the reading exceeds the high range or goes below the low range.
The normal BP range for an adult is below 120/80 mmHg and above 90/60 mmHg. If your blood pressure reading is higher or lower than this range, that is a warning sign. This condition puts you at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular issues.
At this point, you must rush to a doctor and get yourself checked. Elevated blood pressure, if neglected, is likely to reach a point of Hypertension or, even worse, malignant Hypertension.
The risk of elevated or high blood pressure increases when a person is overweight, indulges in smoking or consumes alcohol, or lives a stressful life. The best thing one can do to keep the BP in check is to live a healthy life. Eating heart-healthy food, staying active, and keeping stress away positively impact keeping your BP in check.
Spikes and valleys in blood pressure
It is hard to notice spikes in blood pressure as it shows no signs. You may feel a slight discomfort like restlessness, sweating, chest pain or headache, but those are very mild. The only way to keep a keen eye on causes of sudden high blood pressure is to monitor it regularly.
Let’s dive deeper into understanding what factors cause a sudden spike in blood pressure levels.
There are many causes of fluctuating blood pressure levels. They are categorised as BP fluctuations due to monitoring errors and medical causes.
When we talk about monitoring errors, we refer to mistakes made during recording BP readings. This happens when a person monitoring BP reading does not have enough information to use a BP apparatus. Such a situation can lead to a misunderstanding and unnecessary panic. It is recommended that one must monitor BP at home only after proper training. So, the next time you visit a doctor, get a demonstration of using the device.
Besides this cause of a sudden high blood pressure level, some medical and emotional issues contribute to blood pressure fluctuations.
Stress
Stress and anxiety cause sudden spikes in blood pressure levels. There is nothing to worry about if that is occasional. But if stress is causing a frequent rise in your blood pressure levels, it is high time you get yourself checked.
White-coat syndrome
Have you ever felt restless before a doctor’s appointment? This feeling of restlessness causes a sudden spike in blood pressure levels, called a white-coat syndrome. This does not mean that you have Hypertension, but if you have the white-coat syndrome, you will likely develop Hypertension.
Medication
Some medications for colds and allergies can cause a sudden spike in blood pressure levels. So, if you are already hypertensive, inform your doctor about your condition before taking any medicines. Your doctor will suggest you a different combination of medicines to tackle the health issues.
Physical activities
High-intensity exercises can make your heart race faster than usual. It is always better to exercise at a pace and intensity that your body can tolerate. Excess physical activity can result in elevated blood pressure or even lead to a heart condition later in life.
Food & Beverages
Your choice of food might impact your BP levels. Food items with high sodium content and a high glycemic index can increase the risk of Hypertension. When it comes to beverages, drinking too much coffee or consuming alcohol has adverse effects on your blood pressure levels too!
Adrenal issues
The rise in blood pressure levels due to a hyperactive adrenal system is called Endocrine Hypertension. The adrenal glands, in this case, produce an excess aldosterone hormone. This situation causes your kidneys to retain more salt and water and lose a lot of potassium, resulting in a spike in BP levels. This issue is a concern for people who already have Hypertension.
Pheochromocytoma
Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumour found in the adrenal glands that hamper hormone production. When the hormone production is disturbed, it shows in the form of BP level fluctuations. People who are diagnosed with pheochromocytoma are highly likely to have hypertension. Therefore, treating it before it leads to other life-threatening conditions is essential.
The solution to fluctuating blood pressure levels!
Elevated blood pressure doesn’t mean that you have Hypertension. But if you don’t try to minimise the risks, you will likely fall prey to them. Treating fluctuating blood pressure levels or Hypertension doesn’t require you to do a lot. Simple lifestyle changes, following your doctor’s advice, and monitoring your BP levels regularly are just enough to have a hypertension-free life or manage it well.
If you observe any abnormalities in your BP levels, it is always better to get in touch with a doctor than wait. Regularly monitoring BP can help rule out many risks that can worsen your health. blood pressure levels enables you to get in touch with top doctors in the country to start your hypertension treatment journey!