Know Your Blood Pressure: What Do Those Readings Mean?

Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers—the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top or first and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."

Normal blood pressure is less than 130 mm Hg systolic and less than 85 mm Hg diastolic.

Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.

What High Blood Pressure Does to You.
High blood pressure is dangerous because it makes the heart work too hard. It also makes the walls of the arteries hard. As people get older, arteries throughout the body "harden," especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder.

High blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) for getting heart disease, kidney disease and for having a stroke. It is especially dangerous because it often has no warning signs or symptoms. Regardless of race, age, or gender, anyone can develop high blood pressure. It is estimated that one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime. You can prevent and control high blood pressure, however, by working with your health care provider and taking action.

Source: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Federal Government's primary agency for biomedical and behavioral research. NIH is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.)

What Should You Do?
If you have high blood pressure (the medical term is hypertension), you need to take action. If you donŐt, you will greatly increase your chances for heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. In most cases, your doctor will begin by suggesting dietary changes to reduce your blood pressure. Often this includes reducing your sodium or salt. Be sure to check with your healthcare provider before starting a diet, or dietary supplements, on your own. Your doctor will likely also prescribe medication to help reduce your blood pressure. One of the most common mistakes people make is reducing the dosage or stopping the medicine because they feel OK, or because their blood pressure becomes normal. DONŐT! Your doctor will try to find the right dosage and balance of medications, but you have to do your part and take all medications as instructed. High blood pressure is not something that is cured. When asked if they have high blood pressure, people whose blood pressure has been controlled often mistakenly say, Ňno.Ó If you have been found to have high blood pressure, you always have it. What changes is how well it is controlled. And you will need to continue to keep it controlled in order to stay healthy.