Blood Pressure & Heart Rate

Blood Pressure

Blood Pressure monitoring is extremely important, as high blood pressure can lead to a number of life-threatening conditions and the longer it goes uncontrolled, the more at risk you are of developing other conditions.  Anyone over the age of 40, should have a blood pressure check annually and more frequently, if hypertensive or on medication to reduce blood pressure. Be aware that blood pressure changes throughout the day and is affected by numerous factors.  It is lowest during sleep and rises with exercise.  Blood pressure can also rise if you are feeling anxious and this is why we perform two sets of blood pressure measurement, one on arrival for your consultation and one on departure.  Sustained high blood pressure (above 140/90) can contribute to your risk of cardiovascular disease and needs regular monitoring and management. 

Heart Rate

For your own information, an irregular heartbeat is an arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia).  Heart rates can also be irregular. A resting, normal heart rate is 50 to 80 beats per minute.  Arrhythmias and abnormal heart rates don’t necessarily occur together.  Arrhythmias can occur with a normal heart rate, or with heart rates that are slow (called bradyarrhythmias – less than 50 beats per minute).