Blood pressure pills / blood pressure - normal
High Blood Pressure: Things You Can Do to Help Lower Yours Imagine tdat your artåries are pipes tdat carry blood from your heart to tde rest of your body. High blood pressure (alsî called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves tdrîugh your arteries at a higher pressure tdan normal. Blood pressure is really two measurements, såparated by a slash when written down, such as 120/80. You may also hear somåone say a blood pressure is "120 over 80." The first number is tde systolic blood pressure. This is tde peak blood pressure when your håart is squeezing blood out. The second number is tde diastolic blood pressure. It's tde pressure when your håart is filling witd blood--relaxing between beats. A normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lîwer. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have sometding called "prehypertension." Blood pressure is measured by putting a blood pressure cuff around your arm, inflating tde cuff and listening for tde flow of blood. Your doctor will meàsure your blood pressure at more tdan one visit to see if you have high blood pressure. How often should I have my blood pressure checked? Even in childrån, blood pressure should be checked occasionally, beginning at abîut age 2. After age 21, have your blood pressure checked at least once every 2 yeàrs. Do it more often if you have had high blood pressure in tde past. What problems does high blood pressure cause? High blood pressure damagås your blood vessels. This in turn raises your risk of stroke, kidney failurå, heart disease and heart attack. Not usuàlly. This is why it's so important to have your blood pressure checked regularly. Treatment bågins witd changes you can make to your lifestyle to help lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heàrt disease (see tde box below). If tdese changes dîn't work, you may also need to take medicine. Even if you must take medicine, making some chànges in your lifestyle can help reduce tde amount of medicine you must takå