Your blood pressure is one of the most important vital signs that reflects the function of your cardiovascular system. It is measured as the force of blood on the walls of arteries and is represented with two numbers, systolic and diastolic.

Knowing what these numbers mean is crucial for maintaining good health.

What is Systolic Blood Pressure?

The top number in a blood pressure reading is known as systolic blood pressure. This represents the force exerted by blood against artery walls when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the circulation.

Normal systolic pressure ranges from 90 to 119 mmHg, and high systolic pressure is considered anything above 140 mmHg. High systolic pressure is particularly concerning because it is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. It is important to keep systolic pressure within healthy limits to prevent damage to the cardiovascular system.

What is Diastolic Blood Pressure?

The bottom number in a blood pressure reading is diastolic blood pressure. This number represents the pressure inside the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.

Normal diastolic pressure ranges from 60 to 79 mmHg, and high diastolic pressure is considered anything above 90 mmHg. While high diastolic pressure is also a concern, it is not considered as dangerous as high systolic pressure. However, it is still important to keep diastolic pressure within healthy limits to prevent damage to the cardiovascular system.

What Causes High Blood Pressure?

There are several factors that can cause high blood pressure, or hypertension. These include:.

Smoking
Being overweight
Lack of physical activity
Stress
Excessive salt intake
Genetics
Age
Chronic conditions such as kidney disease or diabetes

When left untreated, high blood pressure can damage the walls of the arteries and lead to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. This increases the risk for heart attack and stroke.

Measuring Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is usually measured using a sphygmomanometer, which consists of an inflatable cuff that is wrapped around the upper arm and a pressure gauge called a manometer.

The cuff is inflated to temporarily cut off blood flow through the arm, and then slowly released to allow blood flow to resume. The point at which blood begins to flow is the systolic pressure, and the point at which the flow becomes smooth and quiet again is the diastolic pressure.

Avoiding High Blood Pressure

The following lifestyle changes can help control blood pressure and reduce the risk for heart disease:.

Eating a low salt diet
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy weight
Quit smoking
Limit alcohol intake
Reduce stress

It is also important to manage underlying medical conditions that may contribute to high blood pressure. This may include treating kidney disease, managing diabetes, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Monitoring Blood Pressure

Gaining an understanding of your blood pressure readings is important for monitoring your health. Tracking blood pressure over time can help detect any changes and allow you to take action if necessary.

It is recommended that adults get their blood pressure checked at least once a year, and more frequently if there is a history of high blood pressure or other risk factors for heart disease.

Conclusion

Your blood pressure is an important indicator of your cardiovascular health. Understanding the difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure can help you monitor your readings and take appropriate action to prevent heart disease and stroke.

Making lifestyle changes and managing underlying medical conditions can help keep your blood pressure within healthy limits.