3
If you are undergoing medical treatment to control your blood pressure, please keep a record of the level of
your blood pressure by carrying out regular self-measurements at specific times of the day. Show these val-
ues to your doctor.
Never use the results of your measurements to alter independently the drug
doses prescribed by your doctor.
Table for classifying blood pressure values (units mmHg) according to World Health Organization:
☞
Further information
• If your values are mostly standard under resting conditions but exceptionally high under conditions of
physical or psychological stress, it is possible that you are suffering from so-called «labile hypertension».
Please consult your doctor if you suspect that this might be the case.
• Correctly measured diastolic blood pressure values above 120 mmHg require
immediate medical
treatment.
2.3.What can be done, if regular increased/low values are obtained?
a) Please consult your doctor.
b) Increased blood pressure values (various forms of hypertension) are associated long- and medium term
with considerable risks to health. This concerns the arterial blood vessels of your body, which are en-
dangered due to constriction caused by deposits in the vessel walls (Arteriosclerosis). A deficient sup-
ply of blood to important organs (heart, brain, muscles) can be the result. Furthermore, with long-term
continuously increased blood pressure values, the heart will become structurally damaged.
c) There are many different causes of the appearance of high blood pressure. We differentiate between
the common primary (essential) hypertension, and secondary hypertension. The latter group can be as-
cribed to specific organic malfunctions. Please consult your doctor for information about the possible
origins of your own increased blood pressure values.
d) There are measures which you can take, not only for reducing a medically established high blood pres-
sure, but also for prevention. These measures are part of your general way of life:
A) Eating habits
• Strive for a normal weight corresponding to your age. Reduce overweight!
• Avoid excessive consumption of common salt.
• Avoid fatty foods.
B) Previous illnesses
Follow consistently any medical instructions for treating previous illness such as:
• Diabetes (Diabetes mellitus)
• Fat metabolism disorder
• Gout
C) Habits
• Give up smoking completely
• Drink only moderate amounts of alcohol
• Restrict your caffeine consumption (Coffee)
Range
Systolic
blood pressure
Diastolic
blood pressure
Measures
Hypotension
lower than 100
lower than 60
Consult your doctor
Normal range
between 100 and 140
between 60 and 90
Self-check
Mild hypertension
between 140 and 160
between 90 and 100
Consult your doctor
Moderate hypertension
between 160 and 180
between 100 and 110
Consult your doctor
Severe hypertension
higher than 180
higher than 110
Consult your doctor im-
mediately
