Your Guide to Lowering Blood Pressure
Adapted from (with links to) the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)March 15, 2003 Print-friendly version
Email this article | Page 1 | What is Blood Pressure?
Categories for Blood Pressure Levels in Adults* (Ages 18 Years and Older)
| | Page 2 | Understanding High Blood Pressure
What is High Blood Pressure?
What is systolic blood pressure?
Is isolated systolic high blood pressure common?
Is isolated systolic high blood pressure dangerous?
Does it require special treatment?
What is diastolic blood pressure?
| | Page 3 | Why Is High Blood Pressure Important?
Risk Factors
| | Page 4 | Effect of High Blood Pressure on Your Body
| | Page 5 | What Causes High Blood Pressure?
Who Can Develop High Blood Pressure?
| | Page 6 | High Blood Pressure Detection
How do I know if I have high blood pressure?
How Is Blood Pressure Tested?
Tips for Having Your Blood Pressure Taken
What device can I use to take my own blood pressure?
| | Page 7 | Preventing High Blood Pressure
Healthy Eating
Facts about the DASH diet
| | Page 8 | Healthier Eating with DASH
| | Page 9 | Getting Started with DASH
How to Lower Calories on the DASH Eating Plan
Heart Healthy Recipes
| | Page 10 | Tips On How To Make Healthier Meals
| | Page 11 | A Word About Fats
Reduce Salt and Sodium in Your Diet
Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Physical Activity
Limit Alcohol Intake
Quitting Smoking
Other Factors Affecting Blood Pressure
| | Page 12 | Treatment of High Blood Pressure
Medications Used to Treat High Blood Pressure
| | Page 13 | Tips to Help You Remember to Take Your Medicine
| | Page 14 | Questions To Ask Your Doctor
| | Page 15 | Issues For Women
Real Life Examples related to High Blood Pressure
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What is Blood Pressure?
You are encouraged to go to www.nhlbi.nih.gov/hbp/index.html to view the NHLBI primary site for this information. This article is from that site, with some adaptation. Please recognize the NHLBI for this presentation.
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers - the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes 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 measurement of 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."
Normal blood pressure is less than 130 mm Hg systolic and less than 85 mm Hg diastolic. Optimal blood pressure is less than 120 mm Hg systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.
Categories for Blood Pressure Levels in Adults* (Ages 18 Years and Older)
BP Classification
| Systolic (mmHg) |
Diastolic (mmHg) |
Category |
| Less than 120 |
Less than 80 |
Normal BP |
| 120-139 |
80-89 |
Prehypertension |
| 140-159 |
90-99 |
Stage 1 Hypertension |
| Equal to or greater than 160 |
Equal to or greater than 100 |
Stage 2 Hypertension |
|
* For those not taking medicine for high blood pressure and not having a short-term serious illness. These categories are from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.
** Optimal blood pressure with respect to heart disease risk is below 120/80 mm Hg. However, unusually low readings should be evaluated for clinical significance.
When systolic and diastolic blood pressures fall into different categories, the higher category should be used to classify blood pressure level. For example, 160/80 mm Hg would be stage 2 hypertension (high blood pressure).
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