Is it normal for blood pressure to fluctuate

Research from indicated that high variability in blood pressure puts a person at the same risk for cardiac problems as high cholesterol. A study from concluded that older adults with daily fluctuations in blood pressure were more likely to develop dementia. Healthy lifestyle choices, and in some cases medication, can resolve fluctuations in blood pressure.

A person should have their blood pressure checked regularly, and seek treatment for any conditions that may affect it. While fluctuations in blood pressure can be dangerous, medications and lifestyle changes can manage the situation.

After a doctor determines the cause of changing blood pressure, they will help develop a treatment plan. It is common to have your blood pressure checked at the doctor's office, but there are many cases where it is important to monitor it at home.

It is…. Hypotension, or low blood pressure, can stem from a number of causes. Severe hypotension may indicate an underlying condition that needs treatment. When a person's blood pressure is low enough to cause symptoms, it can have serious health consequences, including shock and kidney failure. People sometimes call high blood pressure the silent killer because it often has no symptoms, but it can lead to life threatening complications.

Hypertension or high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, stroke, and death and is a major global health concern. A range of risk factors may…. How can I stabilize my blood pressure? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.

Causes of fluctuating blood pressure. A pheochromocytoma can cause wild fluctuations in blood pressure with normal blood pressure in between spells.

This can make the condition more difficult to detect. The graph shows a nine-day period of short, irregular bursts in blood pressure due to a pheochromocytoma. The lower points represent the bottom number of the reading diastolic pressure. The higher points show the top number of the reading systolic pressure.

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Later, the numbers are high. To sort these issues out, a healthcare provider may recommend home monitoring or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Home monitoring may also be a good idea for:. If you notice some high blood pressure readings among the normal ones, it could be that you have hypertension but have not been diagnosed yet. Experts don't know exactly how high blood pressure develops. It may because your genes and your environment affect how your heart and kidneys work.

It may also be due to gradual atherosclerosis , or hardening of the arteries. Some risk factors raise the chances of having high blood pressure.

They include:. Sometimes another health condition causes high blood pressure. That's called secondary high blood pressure because it happens as a result of a problem somewhere else in your body. Some medications can also cause secondary high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can come from :. Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider's appointment to help you ask the right questions. It's normal for your blood pressure to go up and down a little during the day. If you're using a home blood pressure cuff, the readings might be off. The same holds true for drugstore equipment.

It's also possible that your readings vary because you're stressed by being in a healthcare setting. If that's the case, your healthcare provider might ask you to use a device that tracks your blood pressure at home for a day or two. It is possible that differences could be related to a health condition. If you're not getting consistent readings, it's important to see your healthcare provider about the issue. With proper monitoring, healthy habits, and medications if needed , you can gain control over your heart health.

Looking to start a diet to better manage your high blood pressure? Our nutrition guide can help. Visit-to-visit blood pressure variability, coronary atheroma progression, and clinical outcomes. JAMA Cardiol. American Heart Association. Monitoring your blood pressure at home. Updated November 30, July 2, Reimbursement of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in the US commercial insurance marketplace. J Clin Hypertens Greenwich. American Association of Endocrine Surgeons. Pheochromocytoma: Diagnosis and treatment.

Updated White coat hypertension: improving the patient-health care practitioner relationship. Psychol Res Behav Manag. Masked hypertension: a phenomenon of measurement.