Blood pressure is the measurement of systolic (pressure of the blood on the blood vessel walls during a heartbeat) and diastolic (pressure between heartbeats). The higher it is, the more pressure is on the walls. It’s also an indicator of the stiffness of those blood vessel walls and can indicate a build-up of plaque. High blood pressure is just one of the potential issues. You can also have blood pressure that’s too low. Hiring skilled nursing care providers can help to monitor your loved one’s blood pressure.
Learn more about the risks of high and low blood pressure and why your dad’s blood pressure health is so important. Ideally, he wants to have a reading that’s between 90 to 120 over 60 to 80. Anything higher or lower than that is concerning.
Risks of High Blood Pressure
Skilled Nursing Care Elizabethtown PA – The Risks of Low and High Blood PressureHigh blood pressure (hypertension) is a serious health condition where the pressure of the blood in blood vessels is too high. It increases the risk of ischemic heart disease and stroke. According to the American Heart Association, every increase of 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic over healthy blood pressure doubles your risk of those health issues.
With high blood pressure, the force of the blood on the blood vessels can create a dangerous tear or hole in a major blood vessel. It can damage your kidneys, and high blood pressure increases your risk of certain eye conditions that can impact your vision.
If your dad has high blood pressure, his doctor will recommend a low-sodium diet and daily exercise. He’s also going to be told to lose weight, and he may need to start taking prescription medications like beta blockers to protect his heart.
Risks of Low Blood Pressure
Several things can cause low blood pressure, including dehydration and conditions like postural hypotension, where the blood pressure dips when standing up. Generally, the biggest risk involves becoming so lightheaded that you fall down and injure yourself. But, it can also indicate something else is wrong, such as an infection or heart arrhythmia.
Low blood pressure is addressed by looking at the root cause. He may need to add more sodium to his diet, or he might need prescription medications. If the low blood pressure is caused by dehydration, your dad would need to drink more fluids each day.
Skilled nursing care services are a good way to make sure your dad’s blood pressure is carefully monitored by a professional without having to continually drive him to his doctor’s office. You could take his blood pressure for him using a digital cuff, but nurses have the training and equipment needed to do it right every time.
He can have a nurse check his blood pressure, discuss the results with his doctor, and adjust his care plan as needed without having to leave his home. Call our skilled nursing care agency about blood pressure care and monitoring.
Sources: https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/high-blood-pressure/understanding-blood-pressure-readings
If you or a loved one are considering Skilled Nursing Care Services near Elizabethtown PA, contact the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Lancaster. Call today at (717) 205-2174.
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