What do blood pressure readings mean? Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. The top or “systolic” number measures blood pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood out to the body. The bottom or “diastolic” number measures blood pressure in the arteries between heartbeats, when the heart muscle is refilling with blood. An example of a typical blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. 120 is the systolic reading, and 80 is the diastolic reading. The abbreviation mmHg stands for millimeters of mercury, the unit used to measure blood pressures.
A normal blood pressure is a systolic reading below 120 and a diastolic reading below 80. Hypertension is the term used to describe blood pressures above 140 systolic or 90 diastolic. Having systolic readings between 120 and 139 or diastolic readings between 80 and 89, indicate prehypertension, and places a person at increased risk for developing hypertension in the future.
Approximately one third of adults in the United States have some degree of hypertension. The following are some common risk factors that can lead to high blood pressure.
● A diet high in salt, fat, and/or cholesterol
● Chronic medical conditions such as kidney and hormone problems, diabetes and high cholesterol
● Family history: You are more likely to have high blood pressure if your parents or other close relatives have it
● Lack of physical activity
● Older age: The older you are, the more likely you are to have high blood pressure
● Being overweight or obese
● Race: Non-Hispanic black people are more likely to have high blood pressure than people of other races.
● Stress
● Tobacco use or drinking too much alcohol
Most people with high blood pressure do not have any symptoms. This is why it’s sometimes called “the silent killer” and why it is so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. If left untreated, hypertension can damage many parts of the body and increase a person’s risk for stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.
You can have your blood pressure measured at a local doctor’s office, urgent care facility, hospital, visiting nurse association, and in some retail pharmacies. Sphygmomanometers can also be purchased for in home use.
If your blood pressure is found to be high, getting serious about lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise, smoking cessation and weight reduction can be very effective in reducing, even eliminating hypertension. If lifestyle changes alone don’t drop your blood pressure low enough, your doctor can prescribe medication to treat this condition.
More information on blood pressure and hypertension can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/
I learn how to read blood pressure form the sphygmo snce I was in Elementary. I was forced to learn it because my grandma used to live with us. I always get her BP thrice a day.
Chelsea, what a great skill you learned at such a young age to take care of your Grandma. Did you learn from a family member or health care professional or both?
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Hi ive been treated for hypertension for 10 yrs now when i was 19 my bp was 140/80 had to get it under this for military enlistment in 81 anyway its gone up due to smoking and stress ya stress of going into the drs office at home my bp was 124/76 and lower similar readings when in the drs office it went up to 190/98 200/100 4 out of 5 times im on 10mg of ramipril and if u have high b/p and feel anezity going to ur dr pls get a home monitor its white coat syndrome i was put on 20mg ramipril and my pressure went on the floor tried to tell my fill in dr i was nervious as heck but got oh it wouldnt raise my b/p that high so as i say pls get monitor that works good have pleasant visit with ur psyision thanks for reading !!
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