Facts on Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure?
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the artery walls. It is recorded as two numbers. The systolic pressure (as the heart beats) is recorded over the diastolic pressure (as the heart rests between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other , with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed as "120 over 80".

What is normal Blood Pressure?
According to The World Health Organization and The International Society of Hypertension, blood pressure is classified as follows:
Normal: Systolic below 120 & Diastolic below 80
Prehypertension: Systolic 120-139 & Diastolic 80-90
Stage 1 Hypertension: Systolic 140-159 & Diastolic 90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension: Systolic 160 or more & Diastolic 100 or more

What is Hypertension?
Blood pressure will typically rise and fall throughout the course of a day. It is when blood pressure remains elevated over an extended period of time that a person can be diagnosed with high blood pressure which is medically termed "hypertension".

Hypertension is dangerous and should be treated by a doctor. It causes the heart to work harder when pumping blood throughout the body's arteries. This can cause an increased risk of stroke and heart disease, congestive heart failure, kidney disease, and blindness.

Next time you are in the Y, you can have your blood pressure checked. This can be a great tool to measure your wellness.