As the heart goes through its cycle of contraction and relaxation, it pushes blood through the arteries. The force of blood increases pressure within the arterial walls, and high pressure can cause damage over time. Accordingly, blood pressure is an important vital sign for doctors to review. Abnormal blood pressure indicates a medical problem, which can be life-threatening in some cases.
To fully understand your blood pressure reading, you will need to know what each number in the reading means. The first number is your systolic pressure, which measures pressure in the arteries as the heart beats and sends blood to other areas of the body. The second number is diastolic pressure, and it measures arterial pressure between heart beats (when the heart is at rest).
Blood pressure readings are considered normal when systolic pressure is under 120 and diastolic pressure is under 80. These numbers are typically expressed in fractions, so a normal reading might look like 120/80 on medical records and charts. When doctors explain this vital sign, they may express it as 120 over 80.
Outside of the normal range, a person’s blood pressure can be elevated, high (hypertension stages 1 and 2), or critical (hypertensive crisis). Here is how those categories break down:
A hypertensive crisis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention, while hypertension stages 1 and 2 require timely evaluation and treatment by a doctor.
Untreated high blood pressure can damage multiple areas of the body, including the heart, brain, and kidneys. Hypertension can increase a person’s risk of strokes, heart failure, organ damage, and arterial disease. High blood pressure can also cause damage to the eyes and lead to vision loss.
While high blood pressure must be taken seriously, the good news is that most people can manage it with lifestyle changes, exercise, and medication. Your doctor can help you better understand your reading to make the necessary changes for your health.