Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: What’s the Difference?

If you thought both blood pressure and heart rate show similar results for heart health, you’ve got a lot to learn here.

What is Heart Rate?

Heart rate is measured as the number of times the heart beats in a minute. It can be measured by the pulse which is located at the wrist area.

The pulse that is being measured is positioned as a bulge on an artery in the hand that contracts and dilates due to the waves of blood passed through the blood vessels each time the heart beats.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood while flowing in the circulatory system. The diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls decide the amount of blood that can flow through the veins. If the vessels are broad and dilated, then expect a smooth flow of blood and no blockages to occur.

In the event that the blood vessels are narrow and contracted, the blood forces its way through the circulatory system on its way to the brain and heart, which can cause severe brain damage and heart failure.

Each of these health factors come with their own negatives when the rating falls below or above average.

Common Symptoms of Low/Above Average Blood Pressure

1. Severe headaches in cases of high BP – Dizziness in cases of low blood pressure
2. Fatigue kicks in sooner than usual and you seem to be confused
3. Problems in vision – Double figures begin to appear
4. Traces of blood can be found in urine samples
5. Concentration ability drastically drops
6. Inability to control stress levels and frequent outbursts

Common Symptoms of Low/Above Average Heart Rate

1. Sweating very often from the palm of the hand and sole of the feet
2. Syncope (fainting) may occur
3. Weak immune system towards chest issues like asthma
4. Uneasiness and frequent chest pains
5. Blackouts and weak body functionality
6. Exhaustion in no time during basic physical activity or exercise

Causes of Unstable Blood Pressure and Heart Rate

The reasons that a person can suffer from unsteady heart rate and blood pressure are similar in most ways. Though both, heart rate and blood pressure, do not necessarily rise or fall at a constant rate, there is yet a possibility of relating the two factors.

Even though your heart is beating more than the average of 72 beats per minute, the blood vessels can dilate to allow a smoother flow of blood and lower blood pressure.

Here are some common causes of an unsteady heart rate and blood pressure.

1. Imbalance of electrolytes such as potassium and sodium in your bloodstream
2. Situations when the electrical impulses misfire and become unstable, which results in the atria trembling out of instability – also called Atrial Fibrillation
3. Coronary artery diseases, also known as atherosclerotic. Some of them are, Valvular heart disease that affects the regulation of blood flow, and Cardiomyopathy, which restricts the squeezing of heart muscles for the pumping of blood
4. Smoking and consumption of alcohol on a daily basis drastically reduces your blood flow and clogs the arteries and veins with harmful chemicals
5. Excessive salt or sodium in daily foods weakens the kidney and reduces its ability to process water and remove toxins from the body

Unstable Blood Pressure and Heart Rate: Treatments

This, being the informative and detail-oriented world that it is, has hundreds of solutions for such health-related problems. These treatment plans can be applied either when conscious or unconscious.

There are over 40 different meditation exercises and probably over 100 medications for dealing with stress.

Each comes with its own pros and cons, and each route affects a diverse number of factors such as blood vessel dilation or contraction, flushing out of alien particles, the processing ability of nutrients such as unsaturated fats, saturated fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

1. Cortisol

Lay down flat on your back and leave your muscles relaxed. With every breath that you take – slowly start to tighten and loosen each muscle. This reduces Cortisol levels, which is a major stress hormone.

Which medications can you take for cortisol issues?

Ketoconazole, Lysrodren and, Metoprine are medicines used for controlling the over secretion of cortisol in the adrenal gland.

An herbal medicine called Ashwagandha has also proved to reduce Cortisol levels.

2. Oxytocin

Calmly sit on the ground, with an upright back and clear all thoughts in your head. After 5 minutes, think of the best thing that has occurred in a while and make yourself feel good.

This advocates the controlled secretion of oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates heart rate in an exciting situation.

During pregnancy, the heart rate or blood pressure can shoot or fall depending on a caesarian or operation birth style.

Oxytocin helps contract the uterus during labor and acts as a defense barrier for the wear and tear of blood vessels which would directly affect blood pressure and the flow of blood to the heart.

3. Norepinephrine

MBSR – Mindfulness-based stress reduction, is an 8-week secular, intensive mind training program to help people suffering from anxiety, tension, stress, depression, and pain.

These unfortunate traits can arise due to high blood pressure or severe organ damage that occurs due to unstable blood flow. Norepinephrine secretion can be moderated via this practice.

Clonidine is a commonly prescribed drug that cuts short norepinephrine secretion. It belongs to the antihypertensives class of medicines and works with the brain to change nerve impulses.

The impact is visible in the relaxation of blood vessels which eventually leads to the lowering of blood pressure and smoother flow of blood to the heart, thus a stable heart rate.

Wrapping Up

Every human in this world, whether living in cities, villages, forests, mountains, or traveling communities should be aware of symptoms, causes, treatments, and basic knowledge regarding heart rate and blood pressure.

These two factors play a vital role in determining the general health of a person such as heart health, abnormal beating of the heart, possibility of artery damage, condition of the kidneys, and other organs crucial to maintain the heart’s functionality.

Keep in mind that being educated about health and safety matters is the most valuable knowledge you will ever gain in life, due to its ability to save human lives.