Understanding and Managing 106/85 Blood Pressure Reading

Understanding 106/85 Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is an important health indicator that can provide insight into the risk for certain conditions like heart disease and stroke. The numbers, like 106/85, give the systolic and diastolic pressure readings in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). But what do these numbers really mean?

What the Numbers Represent

Blood pressure consists of two measurements:

• Systolic pressure - the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart beats
• Diastolic pressure - the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats

A blood pressure reading of 106/85 mm Hg means that the systolic pressure is 106 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is 85 mm Hg.

Categories of Blood Pressure

Blood pressure ranges can be categorized into different levels:

• Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
• Elevated: 120-129/Less than 80 mm Hg
• Stage 1 Hypertension: 130-139/80-89 mm Hg
• Stage 2 Hypertension: 140/90 mm Hg or higher
• Hypertensive Crisis: Higher than 180/Higher than 120 mm Hg

Evaluating 106/85 Blood Pressure

A reading of 106/85 mm Hg falls into the elevated blood pressure range. While not yet considered stage 1 hypertension, it is higher than the ideal blood pressure of less than 120/80 mm Hg.

Elevated blood pressure signifies an increased risk for developing hypertension and associated health issues like heart attack and stroke if lifestyle changes are not made to lower blood pressure.

Causes of Elevated Blood Pressure

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to elevated blood pressure, including:

• Being overweight or obese
• Physical inactivity
• Unhealthy diet - high in sodium, low in potassium, high in alcohol and processed meats
• Smoking tobacco
• High cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Sleep apnea
• Stress
• Certain over-the-counter medications like NSAIDS and birth control pills
• Family history of high blood pressure

Complications of Uncontrolled 106/85 Blood Pressure

If left uncontrolled over time, a consistently elevated blood pressure around 106/85 mm Hg can begin damaging blood vessels, putting strain on organs, and setting the stage for dangerous health issues.

Heart Disease & Heart Attack

High blood pressure damages arteries and hardens them, building up plaque along artery walls. This plaque can narrow arteries or rupture completely, cutting blood flow to the heart muscle and resulting in a heart attack.

Stroke

Elevated blood pressure can rupture or block arteries supplying blood to the brain, triggering an ischemic stroke. Or it can weaken small arteries in the brain, causing bleeding strokes (hemorrhagic strokes). Strokes damage brain tissue and can result in long-term disability or death.

Kidney Disease & Failure

The kidneys filter waste from blood, which blood pressure helps push through. Over time, high blood pressure stresses filtering blood vessels in the kidneys, causing damage that reduces kidney function. Kidney failure is a serious condition that requires dialysis for survival.

Vision Loss

High pressure blood flow can strain blood vessels in the eyes, causing damage. This creates inconsistent blood flow to the retina and optic nerve or the development of fluid buildup, leading to impaired vision, loss of vision, or blindness.

Treating Elevated Blood Pressure

The risks that accompany elevated blood pressure demonstrate the importance of lowering readings through lifestyle changes and treatment if needed. Most doctors will monitor patients with elevated blood pressure closely before prescribing medication.

Lifestyle Changes

Improving daily habits can help lower blood pressure readings. Key changes include:

• Eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and low-fat or fat-free dairy while limiting salt, sugar, processed foods, and unhealthy fats
• Being more physically active - aim for 30 to 60 minutes most days
• Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight
• Reducing stress through relaxation techniques like meditation, yoga, tai chi, and deep breathing
• Limiting alcohol to no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 per day for women
• Quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke

Medications

There are different types of blood pressure lowering medications that doctors may choose from depending on the individual patient, including:

• Diuretics - help the kidneys remove excess sodium and water from the body
• ACE inhibitors - block the formation of angiotensin II, a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow
• Renin inhibitors - slow down the production of renin, which starts the process to create angiotensin II
• Calcium channel blockers - prevent calcium from entering artery and heart muscle cells and causing narrowing
• Beta blockers - reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels

Medication is sometimes prescribed at the same time as lifestyle changes to help bring high blood pressure under control more quickly while those changes take effect.

Monitoring and Follow Up Care

It's essential for patients with elevated blood pressure to continue following up regularly with their healthcare provider. At-home blood pressure monitoring between appointments is also very helpful.

Doctors will check in on how well blood pressure is responding to treatment and monitor for medication side effects. Adjustments are made to treatment plans as needed to successfully lower pressure into healthier ranges.

Controlling elevated blood pressure greatly reduces chances of developing much more serious health consequences like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, and vision loss.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.