Your blood pressure and pulse rate provide valuable insights into how efficiently your cardiovascular system is functioning. While blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against your artery walls, reflecting how hard your heart is working, pulse rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute, indicating how efficiently your heart is pumping blood. It is important to know that both of these vital signs have healthy ranges, and significant fluctuations can signal trouble.
Speaking with the OnlyMyHealth team, Dr Bimal Chhajer, former consultant at AIIMS and Director, SAAOL Heart Centre, New Delhi, discusses the causes of having a high blood pressure and a low pulse, while also sharing the healthy range for both.
What It Means To Have High Blood Pressure And Low Pulse?
“Having high blood pressure and a low pulse simultaneously can indicate different underlying health conditions or factors at play, including some heart conditions, such as heart block or sick sinus syndrome,” says Dr Chhajer.
He explains that high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition where the force of blood against the artery walls is consistently too high, while a low pulse, or bradycardia, refers to a slow heart rate, usually below 60 beats per minute.
According to Medical News Today, it is rare for a person to experience high blood pressure and a low pulse rate simultaneously. However, it can still occur, particularly in people with Cushing’s reflex and heart conduction disorders.
The cushing reflex occurs when the body tries to increase blood flow to the brain during a crisis, particularly when there's a surge in pressure inside the skull, like from bleeding or a tumour. This reflex increases heart rate and blood pressure, essentially trying to force more blood into the skull. However, it also triggers shallow, rapid breathing patterns.
Normal Blood Pressure Range
The normal range for blood pressure is typically considered to be around 120/80 millimetres of mercury (mm Hg), says Dr Chhajer, adding that the blood pressure can vary from person to person and that what's considered normal can depend on factors such as age, sex, overall health, and individual circumstances.
Blood pressure is usually categorised as follows:
Normal: Less than 120/80 mm Hg
Elevated: Between 120 and 129 (systolic) and less than 80 (diastolic).
Stage 1 hypertension: Between 130 and 139 (systolic) or between 80 and 89 (diastolic)
Stage 2 hypertension: 140 or higher (systolic) or 90 or higher (diastolic)
Hypertensive crisis: Higher than 180 (systolic) and/or higher than 120 (diastolic)
“It's important to monitor blood pressure regularly, especially if you have risk factors for hypertension or other cardiovascular conditions,” Dr Chhajer highlights.
What Is A Healthy Pulse Rate?
A healthy pulse rate, also known as heart rate, typically falls within the range of 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm) for adults at rest. However, factors such as age, fitness level, and overall health can influence what is considered normal for an individual.
Here are some general guidelines for pulse rates:
Adults (at rest): 60-100 bpm
Children (age 6–15): 70–100 bpm
Infants (age 0-5): 100-160 bpm
Also Read: What Does It Mean To Have A Healthy Heart Rate? Expert Answers
Management Tips
Many factors, especially lifestyle and dietary habits, can affect blood pressure and pulse rate. Therefore, it is important to make some healthy choices.
For healthy blood pressure levels:
- Consume a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
- Lower salt intake, as high-sodium foods can influence blood pressure levels.
- Regular exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling, can help lower blood pressure.
- Limit alcohol and caffeine consumption, both of which can raise blood pressure.
For a healthy pulse or heart rate:
- Indulge in regular exercise that can help improve cardiovascular health and lower resting heart rate over time.
- Manage emotional stress and anxiety, which can increase heart rate.
Conclusion
Managing and monitoring your blood pressure and pulse rate is extremely important, particularly for your cardiovascular health. While high blood pressure is often referred to as a ‘silent’ killer, a low pulse can result in symptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, chest discomfort, fainting, and confusion. It is advised to visit a doctor in the event of such symptoms, especially if you have a risk factor for heart disease.