Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your blood vessels (arteries) as the heart pumps blood. Over time if the pressure rises and stays high, it can damage the body in many ways.

How is blood pressure measured?

Your healthcare provider measures blood pressure using an inflatable cuff around your upper arm and either a stethoscope or a machine that displays the result. Two levels of blood pressure—systolic and diastolic—are measured when someone takes your blood pressure.

• Systolic pressure: The systolic pressure is the higher number in a blood pressure reading. It is the pressure on the blood vessels each time the heart contracts.
• Diastolic pressure: The diastolic pressure is the lower number in a blood pressure reading. It is the pressure on the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.

For example, in the blood pressure reading of 120/80 ("120 over 80"), 120 is the systolic pressure, and the second number, 80, is the diastolic pressure.

What do the blood pressure measurements mean?

Normal, healthy, resting blood pressure is less than 120/80. Blood pressure can rise and fall with exercise, rest, stress, or pain. However, if you have several measurements over 120/80, you may have pre-high or high blood pressure.

• Borderline high blood pressure is 120/80 or higher but less than 140/90.
• Stage 1 high blood pressure ranges from 140/90 to 159/99.
• Stage 2 high blood pressure is over 160/100.

If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease, 130/80 or higher is considered high blood pressure.

Why is high blood pressure a problem?

The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk of having a stroke and other serious medical problems. Lowering your blood pressure and keeping it low can save your life.

You may not be able to tell by the way you feel that your blood pressure is high. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it measured. Even though you can't feel it, it is dangerous if it stays high over time. High blood pressure can be harming your blood vessels, heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes with no symptoms.

How can I keep my blood pressure low?

If you have high blood pressure, lowering it and keeping it low can prevent a sudden heart attack or stroke. Keeping your blood pressure under control can help prevent long-term health problems as well. These include heart failure, kidney failure, and blindness. You can do the following things to help keep your blood pressure under control:

• Lose excess weight. If you are overweight, losing even 10 pounds can lower your blood pressure.
• Use less salt (sodium) in your food. Check the levels of sodium listed on food labels. Avoid canned and prepared foods, such as soups, dinner mixes to which you just add the meat or cheese, chips, and crackers, unless the label says no salt is added.
• Follow a healthy eating plan that is low in saturated fat and cholesterol and includes lots of fruits, vegetables, and fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products. Your provider may recommend the DASH eating plan, which is low in salt and rich in fruits, vegetables, and other heart healthy foods. Eat only enough calories to achieve or keep a healthy weight.
• Include regular physical activity in your schedule after checking with your healthcare provider. If you have physical limitations, ask your provider about ways you can still get some exercise.
• If you are a woman, don’t have more than 1 drink of alcohol a day. Men should not have more than 2 drinks a day. (Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure.)
• Don’t smoke.
• Find ways to relax and to manage or reduce stress.
• If you take medicine for high blood pressure, always follow your healthcare provider's instructions. Don't take more or less medicine or stop taking medicine without talking to your provider first. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking certain blood pressure medicine. If you are having problems paying for your medicines, let your provider know. You may be able to get help paying for them.
• Be careful with nonprescription medicines or herbal supplements. Some can raise blood pressure. This includes diet pills, cold and pain medicines, and energy boosters. Read labels or ask your pharmacist if the medicine or supplement affects blood pressure. Some illegal drugs, like cocaine, can also affect blood pressure.
• If your blood pressure is normal, check it at least once a year. If it's above normal, follow the schedule for checkups recommended by your healthcare provider. Your provider may recommend checking your blood pressure at home between checkups.