Medical question

[tamaranth]

Quick medical question: what does it mean when the two figures of a blood-pressure reading (systolic and diastolic) are the same? For example, if I have a BP of 94/94?

Comments

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

From howstuffworks.com:

"There are two numbers in a blood pressure reading: systolic and diastolic. For example, a typical reading might be 120/80. When the doctor puts the cuff around your arm and pumps it up, what he/she is doing is cutting off the blood flow with the pressure exerted by the cuff. As the pressure in the cuff is released, blood starts flowing again and the doctor can hear the flow in the stethoscope. The number at which blood starts flowing (120) is the measure of the maximum output pressure of the heart (systolic reading). The doctor continues releasing the pressure on the cuff and listens until there is no sound. That number (80) indicates the pressure in the system when the heart is relaxed (diastolic reading)."

So I guess if the numbers are the same, then the maximum pressure your heart can exert is the same as the pressure it exists when you're relaxed. Or the machine you're using is a little wonky. (I had mine taken this morning, so blood pressure is on the brain.)

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

Yes, but is it a good thing? Current state indicates not: but am sick (ahahahaha) of being treated like a hypochondriac by whichever GP I happen to get an appointment with ...

[easterbunny.livejournal.com]

Disclaimer: I have NO medical qualifications whatsoever and the very thought of going to the doctor makes me feel faint, but my initial reaction (let's call it an "engineering reaction to pressure systems" to avoid any queasiness) would be that having the numbers the same would not be a good thing - I would have thought that you'd want the heart to be able to deliver higher pressure if you're in an adrenaline rush situation (running for a train, after a cat, from a smelly creep). Having both numbers the same seems unusal, which is why I'd check the machine or get a second reading. The nurse usually has to take mine twice since the first time I'm usually stressed about leaving my car in a ticket-prone street and being at the doctor's office, and this causes her to frown in a "28 year olds should not have a BP of seven zillion over 157" sort of way. Second time it's usually more reasonable.

[tamaranth.livejournal.com]

OK, several hours and several cups of coffee after previous reading: it is now 112/103. Still horribly similar. Would go to doctor, but reaction seems to depend on some arcane factor unconnected with reading or medical history: last time I was told there was nothing wrong with me, maybe coming down with a cold; time before that it was 'dangerously high, not sure you should be flying to Denmark tomorrow'. And there's the long wait, and / or fight with receptionist ...