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| This is how we all feel when we get our blood pressure taken ;) |
Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries, which carry blood from your heart to other parts of your body. Blood pressure normally rises and falls throughout the day. But if it stays high for a long time, it can damage your heart and lead to health problems. High blood pressure raises your risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States.1
High blood pressure has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. The only way to know if you have it is to measure your blood pressure. Then you can take steps to control it if it is too high.
Learn more about high blood pressure:
- High Blood Pressure Signs and Symptoms
- Effects of High Blood Pressure
- Measuring Blood Pressure
- Controlling Blood Pressure
What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
When your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of the body. This force creates pressure on the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure.
A normal systolic blood pressure is below 120.
A systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 means you have prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. Even people with prehypertension are at a higher risk of developing heart disease.
A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure.
What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?
The diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.
A normal diastolic blood pressure number is less than 80.
A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 indicates prehypertension.
A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure.
How Is Blood Pressure Measured?
Blood pressure is measured with a simple, painless test using a blood pressure cuff -- doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a cuff.
The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the forearm or wrist.
When measuring blood pressure, your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through an artery.
The cuff is inflated to a pressure that’s known to be higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away, that indicates the diastolic blood pressure.
The systolic blood pressure number is always said first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is given. For example, your blood pressure may be read as "120 over 80" or written as 120/80.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
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| This is a picture of a healthy heart getting ready to be transplanted. |
Some people may not know but blood pressure is not exactly part of vital statistics. Blood pressure should always be taken when taking vitals because its important. Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers. Systolic is the top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Diastolic is the bottom number which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heart beats. What is the AHA recommendation for healthy blood pressure?
Normal- Systolic is less than 120 and Diastolic is less than 80.
Prehypertension- Systolic is 120 -139 or Diastolic is 80-89.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1- Systolic is 140-159 or Diastolic is 90-99.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2- Systolic is 160 or higher Diastolic is 100 or higher.
Hypertensive Crisis (Emergency care needed)- Systolic is higher than 180 or Diastolic is higher than 110
Checking your blood pressure is very important. Eating a healthy diet and regular exercise will help prevent high blood pressure and the different types of diseases associated with high blood pressure. Go to http://www.webmd.com/hypertension-high-blood-pressure/guide/hypertension-symptoms-high-blood-pressure to get more information on the symptoms and the treatments of high blood pressure.
Find downloadable fact sheets about high blood pressure and related conditions:
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