what does it mean when blood pressure is higher in one arm than the other?
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Generally, a small difference in blood pressure readings between arms isn't a health concern. However, a difference of more than 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for either your top number (systolic pressure) or bottom number (diastolic) may be a sign of blocked arteries in the arms, diabetes or other health problem.
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(It's best to take your blood pressure from your left arm if you are right-handed. However, you can use the other arm if you have been told to do so by your healthcare provider.)
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While facial flushing may occur while your blood pressure is higher than usual, high blood pressure is not the cause of facial flushing. Dizziness : While dizziness can be a side effect of some blood pressure medications, it is not caused by high blood pressure.
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If you have high blood pressure, this means that your heart has to work harder to push blood round your body. To cope with this extra effort, your heart becomes thicker and stiffer, which makes it less able to do its job. If your heart is not able to pump as well as it should, this is called heart failure.
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Orthostatic hypertension. Orthostatic hypertension is a medical condition consisting of a sudden and abrupt increase in blood pressure when a person stands up. Orthostatic hypertension is diagnosed by a rise in systolic blood pressure of 20 mmHg or more when standing.
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In some cases the changes in blood pressure can be rapid and large and this can put extra unwanted strain on the heart and blood vessels. This is because this form of activity involves the sustained contraction of just one set of muscles. So the heart beats harder, but only a small number of muscles are being used.
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The top number refers to the amount of pressure in your arteries during the contraction of your heart muscle. This is called systolic pressure. The bottom number refers to your blood pressure when your heart muscle is between beats.
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High blood pressure means the pressure inside the blood vessels (called arteries) is too high. As the heart pumps against this pressure, it must work harder. Over time, this causes the heart muscle to thicken. Because there are often no symptoms with high blood pressure, people can have the problem without knowing it.
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When arterial blood pressure exceeds the intracranial pressure, blood flow to the brain is restored. The increased arterial blood pressure caused by the CNS ischemic response stimulates the baroreceptors in the carotid bodies, thus slowing the heart rate drastically often to the point of a bradycardia.
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Often, both heart rate and blood pressure rise together, such as when you exercise, get angry, or have an overactive thyroid.
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Orthostatic hypertension refers to an increase in the blood pressure upon assuming an upright posture.
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Arteries and arterioles have relatively thick muscular walls because blood pressure in them is high and because they must adjust their diameter to maintain blood pressure and to control blood flow.
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Vasoconstriction and blood pressure At the same time, the resistance or force of blood flow is raised. This causes higher blood pressure. Untreated high blood pressure (hypertension) can lead to health conditions over time, like vision loss, stroke, or a damaged heart. The opposite of vasoconstriction is vasodilation.
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Buy a monitor with an upper cuff: If you are buying a home blood pressure monitor, choose one that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, not your wrist or finger.
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Elevated blood pressure means your blood pressure is slightly above normal. It will likely turn into high blood pressure (hypertension) unless you make lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise and eating healthier foods.
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This natural, fear-based response can make your heart temporarily beat faster and work harder. When your heart beats faster and harder, your blood vessels become narrower, which can lead to high blood pressure. During stressful times, your blood pressure may rise for a short time.
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Your blood pressure normally rises and falls during the day and with different activities. And if you're sick or in pain, it's normal for your blood pressure to be higher than usual. If your blood pressure is consistently high, this is considered high blood pressure (also known as hypertension.)