The Inside Story on Blood Pressure - International Association of ...

What does it mean?
Blood pressure is made up of 2 important
numbers.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of
mercury (mmHg), a special unit that measures
pressure. It is recorded as 2 numbers usually
written 1 above the other.
• <strong>The</strong> top number is the systolic blood pressure.
It is the highest pressure measured in the arteries,
when the heart beats. A reading of less than
120 mmHg is considered normal for most adults
• <strong>The</strong> bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure.
It measures the pressure in the blood vessels
between heart beats when the heart rests.
A reading of less than 80 mmHg is considered
normal for most adults
Know your numbers.
Normal blood pressure for most adults is where the upper
(systolic) number is less than 120 mmHg and the lower
(diastolic) number is less than 80 mmHg. This is written
as less than 120/80 mmHg.
High blood pressure is where the systolic is consistently
140 mmHg or higher, OR the diastolic is consistently
90 mmHg or higher. This is written as greater than or equal
to 140/90 mmHg. Depending on the health conditions you
have, your doctor may tell you that you have high blood
pressure when your numbers are less than 140/90 mmHg.
Ask your doctor what numbers are best for you.
<strong>The</strong> harder it is for your blood to flow through the blood
vessels, the higher these numbers will be.
Don’t delay. Start getting your high blood pressure to
goal today.
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