From the Fall 2011 StayHealthy publication
Every time you visit your doctor, one of the first things the nurse does is take your blood pressure. Then you’re told two numbers – something over something. But, do you really understand what the numbers mean?
The top number, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts). It is called systolic pressure.
The bottom number, which is also the lower of the two numbers, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting.) It is called diastolic pressure.
Family Medicine Physician Omer Ansari, MD, said high blood pressure puts a person at increased risk for heart disease, kidney disease and stroke, and he likes his patients to have a blood pressure reading of 120/80 or less.
If your numbers are a little out of the "normal range," should you be concerned? "A reading of 130/85 is still considered normal," said Ansari. "But, if your top number is 130-139 and your bottom pressure is 85-89, you need to be concerned." Ansari went on to say a reading of 140/90 means it's time to take action.
"Ninety percent of the population over the age of 55 will probably develop hypertension (high blood pressure)," said Ansari, "and in most cases it can be managed with diet, exercise, medication or a combination of these."
| Top Number (Systolic) | Bottom Number (Diastolic) | Your Category | What To Do |
| Below 120 | Below 80 | Normal Blood Pressure | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle |
| 120-139 | 80-89 | Prehypertension | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle |
| 140-159 | 90-99 | Stage 1 Hypertension | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. If blood pressure goal isn’t reached in about six months, talk to your doctor about taking one or more medications. |
| 160 or higher | 100 or higher | Stage 2 Hypertension | Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about taking more than one medication. |
Visit the Porter Health System website
Valparaiso Campus
814 LaPorte Avenue
Valparaiso, IN 46383
Phone: 219-263-4600
Your heart is a very powerful muscle, and it works for you constantly without ever taking a rest. So, the next time the nurse tells you what your blood pressure reading is, write it down and keep track of it.
By keeping your pressure in check, you will reduce your chance of heart attack by 27 percent, heart failure by 55 percent and stroke by 38 percent, according to the American Heart Association.