Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

A healthy blood pressure is 120 80 or less but the lower you can get it the better.

Blood pressure numbers mean. Blood pressure measurements are given as a top and bottom number. The first reflects systolic blood pressure the amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts. The 120 is the top number and is known as systolic blood pressure. The standard unit of measurement for the blood pressure numbers is millimeters of mercury abbreviated as mmhg.

Blood pressure is always shown as two numbers. Systolic less than 120 mm hg. It represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. Blood pressure bp is classified as follows by the american heart association.

For example if your blood pressure reading is 125 85 millimeters of mercury mm hg you have stage 1 hypertension. Blood pressure is reported using two numbers and many people don t completely understand what these numbers mean. Between 120 and 129. The 80 is the bottom number and is known as diastolic blood.

The higher number that comes first is called systolic pressure. When your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mm hg and your diastolic pressure is less than 80. Systolic top number diastolic bottom number blood pressure category. Use 120 over 80 which is written as 120 80 mm hg millimeters of mercury as an example.

In a blood pressure reading the systolic number always comes first and then the diastolic number. For example your numbers may be 120 over 80 or written as 120 80. To maintain a healthy level and reduce your risk of stroke and heart disease check out our lifestyle tips. If your systolic and diastolic readings fall into two different categories your correct blood pressure category is the higher category.

Diastolic less than 80 elevated bp. Numbers higher than 120 80 mm hg are a red flag that you need to take on heart healthy habits.