Blood Pressure

The only way to know what your blood pressure is, is to have it measured. But, for some people, the numbers our doctor or nurse gives us when taking our blood pressure mean little to us.

So, what is blood pressure and what do those measurements mean?

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What is blood pressure?

Put simply, blood pressure is the pressure of blood in your arteries. Your heart is a pump that beats by contracting and relaxing. When your heart beats, it pumps blood around your body to give it the energy and oxygen it needs. As the blood moves, it pushes the sides of your blood vessels. The strength of the pushing is your blood pressure.

Blood pressure is measured in ‘millimetres of mercury’ (mmHg) and is written as two numbers. For example, if your reading is 120/80mmHg, your blood pressure is ‘120 over 80’.

What do the numbers mean?

Every blood pressure reading consists of two numbers or levels. They are shown as one number on top of the other.

• The first (or top) number is your systolic blood pressure. It is the highest level your blood pressure reaches when your heart beats.
• The second (or bottom) number is your diastolic blood pressure. It is the lowest level your blood pressure reaches as your heart relaxes between beats.

Your target is to have a blood pressure below 140/85. But,,if you’ve had a heart attack or stroke or if you have diabetes or have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, then your blood pressure should be below 130/80.

You should have your blood pressure measured so that you know what your target is.

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure – or hypertension – means that your blood pressure is constantly higher than the recommended level. High blood pressure is not usually something that you feel or notice, but over time your heart may become abnormally large and beat less effectively.

High blood pressure puts extra strain on your arteries (and your heart) and this increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.

There isn’t always an explanation for the cause of high blood pressure, but the following can play a part:

• not doing enough physical activity
• being overweight
• too much salt in your diet
• drinking too much alcohol
• not eating enough fruit and vegetables or,
• having a family history of high blood pressure.

What can I do to reduce my blood pressure?

If your doctor says you have high blood pressure, he/she is likely to encourage you to make some lifestyle changes to help reduce it. This may include:

• increasing your physical activity
• keeping to a healthy weight
• reducing the salt in your diet
• cutting down on alcohol and,
• eating a balanced, healthy diet.

If your blood pressure remains high, your doctor is likely to prescribe you medication to control it and to protect your heart.

Even if you don't have high blood pressure, making these simple lifestyle changes may help prevent you developing it in the future.

More information

You can learn more about blood pressure by downloading our Blood pressure booklet from our Publications section, available in 6 languages.

Other organisations:

Blood Pressure Association Tel: 020 8772 4994 Website: www.bpassoc.org.uk

Stroke Assoication Helpline Tel: 0845 3033 100 Website: www.stroke.org.uk

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