This increased pressure can cause your arteries to thicken or harden, and for your blood vessels to weaken, which can lead to serious health conditions. Each number is a different measurement, but they work together to give you and your doctor a look at your health.
The top number of your blood pressure reading tells you the force of the blood against artery walls when your heart beats. The bottom number tells you what your blood pressure is when your heart is at rest between heartbeats. Normal blood pressure is at or under over If your readings are consistently at or above over 80, you have high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is often called hypertension in the medical community. High blood pressure may be stage 1 or stage 2, depending on how severe the problem is. If you have a blood pressure reading above over , you may be having a hypertensive crisis, which is a medical emergency.
Wait five minutes and retest your blood pressure. If your numbers are still just as high, contact your doctor right away. High blood pressure often doesn't have any symptoms, so you usually don't feel it. If your blood pressure reaches extremely high levels, you may get a headache, shortness of breath or a nosebleed. However, these symptoms may not be specific to your blood pressure. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your doctor immediately.
You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis. Call Your blood pressure numbers and what they mean Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers:. Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure the first number as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term buildup of plaque and an increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.
However, either an elevated systolic or an elevated diastolic blood pressure reading may be used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure. According to recent studies, the risk of death from ischemic heart disease and stroke doubles with every 20 mm Hg systolic or 10 mm Hg diastolic increase among people from age 40 to The abbreviation mm Hg means millimeters of mercury. Mercury was used in the first accurate pressure gauges and is still used in medicine today as the standard unit of measurement for pressure.
While both are indications of health, blood pressure and heart rate pulse are two separate measurements. Learn more about the difference between blood pressure and heart rate.
Great job! Your blood pressure is normal. To keep your readings in this range, stick with heart-healthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise.
However, your numbers fall within the Elevated category, making you more likely to develop high blood pressure unless you take action to control it. Ready to make some small changes that have big impacts? Healthy lifestyle choices are a great place to start. Many people have it for years without knowing it. Learn more. Several factors can affect blood pressure readings, including eating, not eating, and diet.
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Blood Pressure Readings Explained. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Everyone would like to have healthy blood pressure. But what exactly does that mean? Both numbers are important in determining the state of your heart health.
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