What should your normal blood pressure be?

Blood pressure is the measure of how hard your heart has to work to pump blood throughout your body. Blood pressure levels can fluctuate throughout your life and can even change depending on the time of day. However, having persistently high or low blood pressure readings could be a sign of something more serious.

High Blood Pressure

Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is a precursor to several health complications like stroke and heart attack. The higher your blood pressure is, the harder your heart has to work to pump your blood. If hypertension is left untreated, your heart and arteries can become damaged.

High blood pressure rarely presents with noticeable symptoms so you should get regular blood pressure checks. If you do become symptomatic, you might experience headaches, frequent nosebleeds, or shortness of breath.

Low Blood Pressure

Hypotension is a condition characterised by low blood pressure levels. It can be caused by dehydration, heat exposure, severe stress or fear, and donating blood. Hypotension can also be caused by serious health conditions like internal bleeding, Parkinson’s, and heart disease.

Not everyone with low blood pressure will have symptoms. Others may feel faint or dizzy. Treatment of hypotension will depend on its root cause.

Normal Blood Pressure Ranges

It can vary from person to person, but in general a normal blood pressure reading should be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.

A reading lower than 90/60mmHg indicates hypotension while anything over 140/90mmHg is indicative of high blood pressure. You may be at risk of hypertension if you receive a reading of 120/80mmHg to 140/90mmHg.

Blood testing in Northampton

Blood pressure booking in Northampton is easy with West Chemist. Simply access our booking portal to book your blood pressure online in Northampton. From there, choose the blood test/s you want and the time slot that suits you best. Once you pay and receive confirmation of your booking, all you have to do is attend your appointment at our blood taking unit in Northampton.

Your results will be provided soon after your tests are done and if you have any questions, our clinical staff can go over the results with you.

We also provide blood pressure checks to help you stay on top of your blood pressure and get ahead of any health problems. To book in for blood pressure testing or blood testing in Northampton, contact us.