Both are measured in units called millimetres of mercury mmHg. It is best to measure blood pressure when you are relaxed and sitting. Blood pressure is usually measured with an inflatable pressure cuff that wraps around your upper arm.

This cuff is part of a machine called a sphygmomanometer. If a reading is high, your doctor may measure your blood pressure again on several separate occasions before diagnosing high blood pressure.

Your doctor may recommend that you have your blood pressure recorded at home with a monitoring device. This is also known as hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and it involves measuring your blood pressure at regular intervals usually every minutes , while you do your usual activities including sleeping.

Your doctor will organise this service if required. If you are considering buying a blood pressure device to use at home, it is best to speak to your doctor to see if this is needed.

If so, then buy a device that measures blood pressure accurately. See this list of devices that have been approved by the British and Irish Hypertension Society.

What is considered a healthy blood pressure varies from person to person. Your doctor will explain what your ideal blood pressure is based on a range of factors, including your overall health.

The following numbers should only be used as a guide:. High blood pressure usually does not have any symptoms. You can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly well. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked regularly by your doctor.

Low blood pressure can be a problem if it has a negative impact on your body or affects the way you feel. Low blood pressure can make people feel dizzy or faint. See you doctor if you think you have low blood pressure. Get your blood pressure checked every two years if your blood pressure is in the healthy range and:.

You should have your blood pressure checked more frequently such as every 12 months or as directed by your doctor if:. You can also have your blood pressure checked as part of a Heart Health Check. A Heart Health Check is a minute check up with your doctor GP which is subsidised by Medicare.

You are eligible for a Heart Health Check if you:. Your doctor will then use this information to calculate your risk of having a heart attack or stroke over the next five years.

Your doctor will then discuss how you can lower your risk. If your blood pressure remains high, it can lead to serious conditions like a heart attack, heart failure, stroke or kidney disease. Your risk will depend on any other modifiable or non-modifiable risk factors you might have.

Modifiable risk factors are factors that you can change. Your doctor may also recommend you take medicines to manage your blood pressure.

Tobacco smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease and can increase blood pressure. Stopping smoking is one of the best things you can do to help manage your blood pressure.

There is also evidence that e-cigarettes can increase heart rate and blood pressure, which may increase the risk of heart disease.

If you are ready to quit smoking or thinking about quitting smoking, talk to your doctor about ways to help you give up smoking. You can also call the Quitline External Link Tel. The Heart Foundation recommends people follow a heart-healthy eating pattern.

Heart-healthy eating is important External Link for managing blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease External Link. This way of eating is naturally low in unhealthy fats, salt and added sugar.

Check out the Heart Foundation website External Link for a range of resources to help you follow a heart-healthy eating pattern. For individualised nutrition advice, you can also speak to an Accredited Practising Dietitian External Link. Salt is a mineral made up of sodium and chloride.

When looking at food labels on groceries, it is the sodium that is listed. Reducing the amount of salt sodium External Link you eat can help to manage your blood pressure. The Heart Foundation recommends five grams of salt about a teaspoon as a daily maximum.

In addition to following a heart-healthy eating pattern, follow these top tips to reduce your salt intake:. Being physically active is a great way to manage your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease.

All types of physical activity count. Walking, cycling, swimming and yoga are all great for your health. It is recommended that you:. Walking is a great activity for heart health and managing blood pressure.

Getting involved with a Heart Foundation Walking group is a fun and social way to be active. You can also register for a free Personal Walking Plan. Visit Heart Foundation Walking for more information External Link.

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Blood pressure tends to vary depending on age. We examine average blood pressure and what a person should do if their blood pressure is too high or….

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. Understanding blood pressure readings. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Systolic and diastolic. Share on Pinterest A person may experience health complications if their blood pressure is too high.

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Most often, though, blood pressure develops over time. Risk factors for high blood pressure include:. Over time, untreated high blood pressure can lead to a number of potential health complications, such as:.

If you notice consistently high readings when you monitor your blood pressure at home, reach out to a healthcare provider.

They may recommend that you make lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure. Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include:.

A blood pressure chart is a helpful tool when trying to see what your blood pressure reading means. The American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology developed a blood pressure chart that adults can use as a reference when measuring their blood pressure at a healthcare office or home.

The chart offers ranges of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and their corresponding blood pressure classifications: normal, elevated, hypertension stages 1 and 2, and hypertensive crisis. Children have different blood pressure charts. The chart alone cannot diagnose high or low blood pressure.

But monitoring your blood pressure and consulting a blood pressure chart can help you protect your health. If your blood pressure levels are too high or too low, ask a healthcare provider about potential treatment options and lifestyle changes.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about hypertension. Measure your blood pressure. American Heart Association. Understanding blood pressure readings. Flynn JT, Kaelber DC, Baker-Smith CM, et al.

Clinical practice guideline for screening and management of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Cardiovasc J Afr. National Institute on Aging. High blood pressure and older adults.

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Blood Pressure UK BPUK Your Blood Pressure Understanding your blood pressure What do the numbers mean. What do the numbers mean? Find out how to understand blood pressure readings and use our blood pressure chart to see how healthy your blood pressure is. What does a blood pressure reading look like?

Systolic blood pressure. This is the first, or top, number. A health care professional should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure readings. Download this chart: English Jpeg English PDF Spanish Jpeg Spanish PDF Traditional Chinese Jpeg Traditional Chinese PDF.

If your results fall into this category, stick with heart-healthy habits like following a balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Elevated blood pressure is when readings consistently range from systolic and less than 80 mm Hg diastolic.

People with elevated blood pressure are likely to develop high blood pressure unless steps are taken to control the condition. Hypertension Stage 1 is when blood pressure consistently ranges from to systolic or 80 to 89 mm Hg diastolic. At this stage of high blood pressure, health care professionals are likely to prescribe lifestyle changes and may consider adding blood pressure medication based on your risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, or ASCVD, such as heart attack or stroke.

At this stage of high blood pressure, health care professionals are likely to prescribe a combination of blood pressure medications and lifestyle changes.

This stage of high blood pressure requires medical attention. If your readings are still unusually high, contact your health care professional immediately.

You could be experiencing a hypertensive crisis. Call Your blood pressure numbers and what they mean Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers:. Typically, more attention is given to systolic blood pressure the first number as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease for people over In most people, systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the increasing stiffness of large arteries, long-term buildup of plaque and an increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease.

However, either an elevated systolic or an elevated diastolic blood pressure reading may be used to make a diagnosis of high blood pressure. Know your blood pressure numbers. Systolic blood pressure top number in mm Hg Diastolic blood pressure bottom number in mm Hg Blood pressure category 90 or below And 60 or below Hypotension.

Systolic blood pressure top number in mm Hg Diastolic blood pressure bottom number in mm Hg Blood pressure category Below , and… below 80 Normal Between and , and… below 80 Elevated Between and , or… between 80 and 89 Stage 1 hypertension or higher, or… 90 or higher Stage 2 hypertension Higher than , or… higher than Hypertensive crisis.

How to measure blood pressure. Treatment for low or high blood pressure. Complications of low or high blood pressure. How to prevent high blood pressure. Tips to prevent high blood pressure Eat a heart-healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables , whole grains , healthy fats , and low fat protein.

Reduce your sodium consumption. The AHA recommends keeping your sodium intake below 2, milligrams mg , with ideally no more than 1, mg per day. Watch your portions to help you maintain a moderate weight.

Consider quitting smoking , if you smoke. Exercise regularly. Start slowly and work your way up to 30 minutes of exercise most days. Practice stress-relief techniques , like meditation , yoga , and visualization. Chronic stress or very stressful events can send blood pressure soaring, so managing your stress may help manage your blood pressure.

Was this helpful? How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Feb 21, Written By Annette McDermott.

Dec 9, Medically Reviewed By Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI. Share this article. Read this next. READ MORE. Types and Stages of Hypertension. Medically reviewed by Dr. Payal Kohli, M. Raise Low Blood Pressure Naturally Through Diet.

Medically reviewed by Kathy W. Warwick, R. Want to Lower Your Blood Pressure? Tai Chi May Work Better Than Aerobics A recent study has found that tai chi was more effective compared to aerobic exercise in lowering blood pressure among prehypertension patients.

Overview of Portopulmonary Hypertension.