Blood Pressure What is a normal blood pressure reading?

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries. Blood pressure refers to systemic arterial blood pressure, which is the pressure in the large arteries delivering blood to body parts other than the lungs, such as the brachial artery (in the arm). The pressure of the blood in other vessels is lower than the arterial pressure. Blood pressure values are universally stated in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg),

Normal ranges for blood pressure:
Systolic between 90 and 140 mm Hg
Diastolic between 50 and 90 mm Hg
Antihypertensive medication might be withheld when the blood pressure is less than 150-160 over 100-110, while the patient is off medications and when there is no organ (like kidney) damage.

What is High Blood Pressure?
A person's blood pressure is considered high when the readings are
greater than 140 mm Hg systolic (the top number in the reading) or
greater than 90 mm Hg diastolic (the bottom number).

High blood pressure, or hypertension, contributes to the development of coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.

What Are the Effects of High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy?
Although many pregnant women with high blood pressure have healthy babies without serious problems, high blood pressure can be dangerous for both the mother and the fetus. Women with high blood pressure are more likely to have certain complications during pregnancy than those with normal blood pressure. However, some women develop high blood pressure while they are pregnant (often called gestational hypertension).

The effects of high blood pressure range from mild to severe. High blood pressure can harm the mother's kidneys and other organs. It can cause low birth weight and early delivery if not treated properly. In the most serious cases, the mother develops preeclampsia, or 'toxemia of pregnancy', which can threaten the lives of both the mother and the fetus.


How Can Women with High Blood Pressure Prevent Problems During Pregnancy?
If you are thinking about having a baby and you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor or nurse first. Taking steps to control your blood pressure before and during pregnancy (and getting regular prenatal care) go a long way toward ensuring your well-being and your baby's health.

Before becoming pregnant:

• Be sure your blood pressure is under control. Lifestyle changes such as limiting your salt intake, participating in regular physical activity and losing weight if you are overweight can be helpful.
• Discuss with your doctor how hypertension might affect you and your baby during pregnancy. Find out what you can do to prevent or lessen possible problems.
• If you take medicine for your blood pressure, ask your doctor whether you should change the amount you take or stop taking them during pregnancy. Experts currently recommend avoiding angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and Angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonists during pregnancy; other blood pressure medications may be OK for you to use. Do not, however, stop or change your medicines unless your doctor tells you to do so.

While you are pregnant:

• Obtain regular prenatal medical care.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco.
• Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter medications you are taking or are thinking about taking.

Comments: Blood Pressure

Comments 1 to 24 of about 87.
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mom4 - 1 hours ago.
hello fellow preggers, went to the doctor today and blood pressure was 128/78 which is good. my high risk ob told me to stop taking my hctz and immediately and i started the methyldopa. i found out i have to start seeing my regular ob every 2 weeks and the high risk ob every month.

Ediesmommy - 8 days ago.
Hello all. I have suffered hbp since I was 26 thanks to my genetics and now that I am 28 at 20 weeks I am so grateful to be this far in my pregnancy especially with 2 previous miscarriages. I have wonderful medical staff taking special care of my high risk condition and thank GOD for the methodolphya 250 MG working in my favor! I have also been told to take a baby aspirin once a day by my OB to help keep my BP under control. My numbers have been 120's/70's or less for most of my pregnancy. I remain prayerful that I will make it to full term this time and deliver a beautiful as well as healthy baby girl that my husband and I can adore! God bless you all

crystalwinds88 - 9 days ago.
Normally i have extremely low bp but the docs didnt act concerned bc at the docs office, my bp runs normal. I get concerned though bc i black out and get dizzy all the time. Well the other day, everything changed and I got extremely high bp.... 156/115... yeah... my mother and aunt went psycho and started harassing me via email and phone and were saying realy nasty stuff and threatening me.... i ended up having to file a police report and change my phone number... its stopped the harassment.... now im just sad that i have lost a piece of my family... but my bp is now to110/63... so better than before...

clairelouise - 9 days ago.
I had my daughter nearly 7 yrs ago now and when i had my 40 week check they took my blood pressure and said Your not going home, i argued as i paniked, they said my blood pressure was 150/150 seriously high, and i had protein in my urine, I was eventually allowed home to collect my bag as they could see i was shocked and abit upset, I was taken straight into bed an hour later and they began inducement first thing next morning, Im now expecting my second baby and abit nervous about it happening again, im only 11 weeks now but it happened to my mom in her last 3 pregnancies which ended in c-sections due to high blood pressure,

bellakimmie - 12 days ago.
I was just looking for something on low blood pressure. I know high blood pressure isn't good, but I don't think that low is good either. On wednesday mine was 114 over 68.

fizzimomauk - 21 days ago.
Hi Ladies, I'm monitoring my BP too - morning and night. I had HELLP syndrome with my first baby and my BP was 200/125! I had an emergency c section 1/2 hour later! This time round I have been monitoring at home, which I think makes you get used to having your BP taken. I was always worried about what it would be when I got to the doctors office, so of course, it was always up! I would highly recommend getting one of the home monitoring machines. They are super easy to use and certainly put your mind at rest!

heathernicole - 22 days ago.
my blood pressure as been high since mid pregnancy, and i never had high blood pressure before. i keep reading how the doctor will induce people that have high blood pressure but my doctor hasnt said anything about doing so and he is the one who is telling me that it is bad. the other day i was165/95

nicole2216 - 24 days ago.
hey ladies, i am new to this forum in perticular.. but i have gotten some kinda bad news today.. throughout my pregnancy my blood pressure has stayed on average 135/79 and even going down to the 120's over 79.. Most of the time when i first walk into the DR's appt my blood pressure is pretty high.. its like 140+/80+ but when they take it in the room orright before i leave it goes back down to the 130's/79+ I monitor it at home and it stayed aroun 135/79 as well.. But today i went to a new nurse practitioner. My bp was 150/90 and i freaked!! She came in and said how scared she was and at this rate my placenta or any woman's with high BP can deminish and not give your baby enough oxygen and food.. I am scared.. I went to L&D for them to monitor my BP more and it was about 133/73 once i was rested for awhile.. I am really scared..anyone go through this?

queenbee - 24 days ago.
I just got put on bedrest for the next 2 weeks for high blood pressure (149/94), and I am only 26 weeks. I have never had it before, so it was brought on by the pregnancy. It really blows! Besides my feet,legs swelling, my hands sometimes do also. The meds they have me trying makes me feel loopy and tired all the time, oh and one of the side effects is more swelling-great. I had to do a 24 hr urine test- that was fun peeing everytime in a cup for all of Sunday. Pretty much stuck to the house for the entire day, and then having to chug a big orange jug of pee to work yesterday, and then to the lab. I am so glad I work alone on Mondays, so no one had to see my pee in the fridge. Oh the joys of pregnancy! So far though no protein in my urine, but I go back on Friday to see my dr about the 24 hr results, so we'll see. Hopefully I can go back to work soon. With the meds at least my bp is now lower to 119/86.

momof3grtkids - 31 days ago.
I am now almost 37 weeks pregnant and have high blood pressure. My doctor is going to induce me on Monday, April 14th because he doesn't want my pressure to go up too much. When I was at the doctors last week my pressure was 146/96. A little high but not too bad. But he said that it is slowly creeping up, so doesn't want me to go any longer. So, I get to see my baby sooner than I thought!!!! YAY!!!!! Good luck to everyone with your pregnancy!!!!!! :o)

Darianna - 33 days ago.
Hi: Sinus Tackycardia, is a heart condition that should be listed under Blood Pressure, for it does effect it, to a high or low degree! By the grace of god mine is only at 52% regergiation into the left atrium artery!! Thus causeing bad or Toxic blood to get into my heart! Not great for a mom to be!! How about Talking about this issue?

girlwitstyle - 38 days ago.
Hello! I gave birth on 2.23.08 and they said my blood pressure was high (the highest number was 130), do you know if that was slightly high or very high? I am curious. The last few pushes during labor, I pushed so hard (at the doctors order!) and I felt like I was going to have a heart attack! The nurse told me after labor, that my heart rate spiked at that point. I am just wondering if my blood pressure when I was admitted was quite high or not. I am hoping to have a second baby next year and I want to feel prepared or aware of any possible problems! Thanks ladies!

cjmc2577 - 41 days ago.
amanda- mine is now 103/63 and i was told that is good since mine was high before it scared me to be that low.

AmandaBaker - 42 days ago.
My Blood Pressure was 100/60 Yesturday and they said it's good nothing to worry about is that normal or what?

cjmc2577 - 60 days ago.
my blood pressure has gone down already from just taking todays meds. i almost have normal blood pressure. yippeee!

cjmc2577 - 60 days ago.
Well i went to the doctor today. took him my blood pressure results from the past week it was high everytime of course. well i am now on apo-methyldopa 250mg four times a day. he said by my third trimester he is going to proably have to up my meds. hopefully he doesnt. he also told me this might get rid of my migraines and headaches that i always seem to have. i also have to buy a b/p machine for home he wants me to still check it everyday. well wishing everyone all the best.

loubylou2007 - 60 days ago.
wow so many people with the same worry. I had my booking in appointment today( am three months pregnant) to fing I have high blood pressure that changed every time they took it but the general note was that it was high all times and protein in my urine +1. they took loads of blood work and they got me an appointment with a specialist there and then for 4th April am quite worried I know preeclampsia would not be shown this early on but my sister suffered this with her wee girl are they just being on the safe side ? Am trying to put it out of the way at the moment as am quite a stresser by nature and obviously this wouldn't help the situation I feel great by the way much better than my last pregnancy so wasn't prepared for this which makes it a bit harder to understand x

katykate - 60 days ago.
I also had to do the 24 hour urine sample for protein? I will find out if they found anything on Thurs. when i go back to doc...HOPEFULLY all is clear!!

katykate - 60 days ago.
I had high bp on my first visit to the doc to see if i was pregnant. This was 10 weeks along! It was 158/100..I thought it was just becuase it was my first visit, you know being nervous. But next visit it was still high and i WASNT nervous. So i have been on this bp medicine since then. I am almost 19 weeks now. My numebr have been, on avg, in the 120's over 70's. Meds are working but im just wondering for how long...I heard once out of 2nd trimester, bp tends to go up. Im scared. I dont want to be hospitalized. i never ever have been in the hospital like overnight or for any big medical reason. Freaks me out, so i hope my bp stays like it has been. I hope it doesn't lead to preclampsia. I couldn't stand the thought of being in the hospital until i give birth. I will go crazy. Ugh..im too young and healthy to have high bp. It just happens to run on my dads side..THANKS DAD! lol. :o)

cjmc2577 - 62 days ago.
no protein yet. which is good. today i got a lower reading which is good it since to go higher as my day goes on. 138/80. i am not on bed rest as of right now. i am having a real hard time with all these headaches all day.

kassie08 - 62 days ago.
cjmc2577- Those BP readings are high. Is that with you home on strict bed rest? I have had pre-e with both of my pregnancies, but my BP is manageable with strict bed rest. Severe pre-eclampsia is when it gets to 160/110. Do you have protein in your urine? If it is 1+ or higher with the BP above 140/90 that is pre-e. Protein level of 2+ or higher is considered severe. Do you know what your levels have been? It sounds like they ran blood work which is good. It sounds like you are in good hands.

cjmc2577 - 63 days ago.
so i have been checking my blood pressure everyday like the doctor wants for my appointment monday. so far i got 150/90, 169/90, 165/90, 159/93. which i think are all really bad i am hoping that is what is causing my headaches that way the doctor might be able to help with both.

Carmione - 64 days ago.
3/6/08 Hello all. Had a bit of a scare on Tuesday. Headaches, saw those little silvery stars and was light headed all day. I thought I may have been coming down with this flu that's been sweeping the lands-After work I came home to try and lay down, to only become restless and worrisome. I went to triage and found out that I was dehydrated and my blood pressure was up. I felt bad because all day long, I tried to wait it out thinking that my 'off' feeling would pass. Eventually it did, however there could have been something more serious happening to us and I didn't heed the warnings. I'm grateful that this was a minor issue and can be avoided in the future by monitoring my salt intake...no protein in the urine and I'm not pre-eclamptic as of this point. On a more pleasant note, we find out what we are having this Tuesday- can't wait. I think we are having a boy- Daddy wants another little girl. I'm happy either way. We have a couple names picked out. Dante Lee and Nya Belle... I'll post again soon! thanks for taking the time to read

nickirmt - 68 days ago.
Recently I have been experiencing a pulse like sound in one ear, left, and I have done some research on the internet about it and the closest thing I could find that matches what I have is pulsatile tinnitus. I was healthy as a horse pre-pregnancy and in fact have lower blood pressure normally. I am 24 years old and have no idea where this is coming from and it kind of freaks me out. It only happens when I go from a sit to stand position or if I move around a lot. I'm going to my midwife tomorrow and am going to go to a doctor as well to rule out anything serious. Has anyone experienced this in pregnancy or know anyone who has that can give me a little insight to the situation before I go to the doctor. Thanks for taking the time to read this and take care!!!!

kassie08 - 73 days ago.
I spent y'day in the hospital L&D b/c my BP was very high and would not go down (I had pre-eclampsia w/ my first pregnancy too), so my dr. sent me over to be monitored. I was induced at 36 weeks with my first (b/c of the pre-e), and I have a feeling I am heading in the same direction this time. My question for all of you is about the steroid shots doctors often give to help with maturation of the baby's lungs. They did not give me them with my first, but I am hearing a lot about it now. Have any of you had experience with these steroid shots, and if so what was your experience with them. Is it something that should be done, and are there any possible side effects?


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