Blood Pressure Readings Explained: Normal, Elevated & High Numbers in Palm Beach County, FL

What it involves

MedlinePlus says blood pressure is the force exerted against the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood. A reading has two numbers: the top number is systolic pressure and the bottom number is diastolic pressure, written for example as 120 over 80 mm Hg. This page explains the ranges and the right way to measure; the practice's hypertension visit covers treatment.

Who this is for

• Patients who got a reading at a pharmacy or home monitor and are not sure whether it is a problem
• Patients who were told their pressure is elevated and want to understand the next step
• Patients who want to learn how to take a reading at home so the numbers are reliable
• Patients with diabetes, kidney problems, or heart disease whose targets may be lower

What to expect

• Your blood pressure measured, with a repeat reading if the first one is high
• A review of your home or pharmacy readings, if you have brought them
• A review of your medicines, salt intake, activity, and family history
• A plan, which may be lifestyle changes first, and a date to recheck

The ranges, according to MedlinePlus

MedlinePlus gives these ranges for adults not taking blood pressure medicine and not ill:

• Normal: lower than 120/80 mm Hg most of the time
• Elevated: a top number of 120 to 129 and a bottom number under 80
• Stage 1 high: 130/80 or higher but lower than 140/90
• Stage 2 high: 140/90 or higher

Why one reading is not a diagnosis

MedlinePlus says your provider will measure your blood pressure several times before diagnosing high blood pressure, because it is normal for it to differ by time of day. It also says that before a final diagnosis, you should have it measured at home, at a pharmacy, or somewhere other than a provider's office or hospital. A single high number in a stressful week is a reason to recheck, not a reason to panic.

How to take a reading at home

MedlinePlus advises a good quality, well-fitting monitor with a properly sized cuff and a digital readout. Be relaxed and seated for five or more minutes before a reading, practice with your provider to make sure you do it correctly, and bring your home monitor to appointments so it can be checked. It says home readings may be a better measure of your current pressure than readings taken in an office.

Why most people feel nothing

MedlinePlus says most of the time high blood pressure has no symptoms, which means people can develop heart and kidney problems without knowing. Very high pressure, called malignant hypertension, can cause severe headache, nausea and vomiting, confusion, vision changes, or nosebleeds, and that is a reason to get urgent help. Our when to see a doctor for high blood pressure article goes through the warning signs in more detail. MedlinePlus lists high blood pressure among the conditions that can sit behind repeated nosebleeds, and the nosebleeds guide explains when a pattern of bleeds is worth raising with a provider.

Your own target may be different

MedlinePlus says that if you have heart or kidney problems, or have had a stroke, your provider may want your blood pressure even lower than the ranges above, and that how low it should be and when medicine starts is individualized. Kidney health is often checked alongside pressure, as the kidney function tests guide describes. The hypertension management visit is where a personal goal is set.

Lifestyle changes MedlinePlus lists

MedlinePlus lists a heart-healthy diet with potassium and fiber, at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, not smoking, limiting alcohol to one drink a day for women and two for men, limiting sodium to less than 1,500 mg a day, reducing stress, and staying at a healthy weight. These are the same habits covered in the practice's simple habits for heart health article. Sleep belongs in that conversation too, and the insomnia guide explains how a provider evaluates trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.

Sources

• MedlinePlus — High Blood Pressure in Adults (Hypertension)