Blood pressure is
shown as two numbers--the systolic pressure (the top number) as the heart is
beating and the diastolic (the bottom number) pressure between heartbeats. Both
numbers are important.
What is blood
pressure--and when is it high?
Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood
against the walls of the arteries. Everyone has to have some
blood pressure, so that blood can get to the body's organs and
muscles. Usually, blood pressure is expressed as two numbers,
such as 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). Depending on your
activities, blood pressure may rise or fall in the course of a
day. Blood
pressure is considered high when it stays above 140/90 mmHg over
a period of time.
High blood
pressure is called the "silent killer" because most people who
have it do not feel sick. That means it is important to have it
checked regularly. Because blood pressure changes often, your
doctor or other health professional should check it on several
different days before deciding if your blood pressure is too
high.
A reminder:
If you are taking medication to control high blood pressure,
be sure to take it exactly as your doctor has prescribed it.
Blood pressure medicine must be taken in the right amounts and
at the right times in order to work properly.
Blood Pressure
Level in mmHg
*Legend -
'less than' is represented by the < symbol and 'more than' is
represented by the > symbol.*
|
Category |
Systolic |
|
Diastolic |
|
Optimal B/P |
< 120 |
over |
< 80 |
|
Normal B/P |
< 130 |
over |
< 85 |
|
High-normal
B/P |
130-139 |
over |
85-89
|
|
Hypertension
|
|
|
|
|
Stage 1 |
140-159 |
over |
90-99 |
|
Stage 2 |
160-179 |
over |
100-109 |
|
Stage 3 |
>=180 |
over |
>=110 |
High blood
pressure, also known as hypertension, is a major risk factor for
coronary heart disease and the most important risk factor for
stroke and heart failure. Heart failure is a severe condition in
which the heart cannot adequately supply the body with blood.
High blood pressure causes three of every five cases of heart
failure in women. High blood pressure also boosts the chances of
developing kidney disease and blindness. Older women have a
higher risk of high blood pressure, with more than half of all
women over age 55 suffering from this condition.
