Many people do not understand blood pressure and what it is indicative of. People get confused when talking about systolic and diastolic values and what “normal” is. Here is a small bit of information to help you understand.
What is it?
It is a measure of the pressures generated when the heart is pumping, or systolic pressure, and the pressure remaining when the heart is at rest, or diastolic pressure.
What should my blood pressure be?
There are a few misconceptions some have in this area. We have all heard, and it is still the case, that 120/80 is ideal. The reality of the situation is that “normal” blood pressure is specific to the individual. Mine, for example, consistently runs 135/85. Do I have high blood pressure? No. My blood pressure is what my body is accustomed to and it is fine.
How can high blood pressure affect me?
High blood pressure is a growing problem in the United States today. High blood pressure can lead to many complications that range from headache to heart attack and stroke.
What is too high?
Most concur that 140/90 constitutes high blood pressure. Let me say now that if you are concerned at all about your blood pressure, contact your health care provider.
