OverviewWhat do your blood pressure numbers mean?Blood pressure is a measure of the force of blood against the walls of your arteries. Blood pressure readings include two numbers. The first number is the systolic pressure (top number). This is the force of blood on the artery walls as your heart pumps. The second number is the diastolic pressure (bottom number). This is the force of blood on the artery walls between heartbeats. Show
If the top number stays high, or the bottom number stays high, or both, that means you have high blood pressure (hypertension). It's normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day. Your doctor will give you a goal for your blood pressure. What can cause blood pressure to go up or down?It's normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day. Things like exercise, stress, and sleeping can affect your blood pressure. Some medicines can cause your blood pressure to go up. These medicines include certain asthma medicines and cold remedies. A low blood pressure reading can be caused by many things, including some medicines, a severe allergic reaction, or an infection. Another cause is dehydration, which is when your body loses too much fluid. When should you call your doctor?One high or low blood pressure reading by itself may not mean you need to call for help. If you take your blood pressure and it is out of the normal range, wait a few minutes and take it again. If it's still high or low, use the following guidance. Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
CreditsCurrent as of: January 10, 2022 Author: Healthwise Staff When you get your blood pressure numbers, there are two of them. The first, or “top” one, is your systolic blood pressure. The second, or “bottom,” one is diastolic blood pressure. Knowing both is important and could save your life. When your heart beats, it squeezes and pushes blood through your arteries to the
rest of your body. This force creates pressure on those blood vessels, and that's your systolic blood pressure. Here’s how to understand your systolic blood pressure number: The diastolic reading, or the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen. This is what your diastolic blood pressure number
means: Our chart below has more details. Even if your diastolic number is normal (lower than 80), you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120-129. Blood Pressure RangesIf you have normal blood pressure, your blood pressure is less than 120/80. Stick with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to keep that going. Is your blood pressure above the normal range, in either or both systolic and diastolic levels? Your doctor will want to have more than one blood pressure reading before diagnosing hypertension. Treatments include lifestyle changes, and if that’s not enough, may also include medications. Lifestyle changes include:
If you also need medication to lower your blood pressure, there are several types: If you need medication, your doctor will consider which type is best for you. (They’ll also recommend lifestyle habits that help lower blood pressure.) Deciding whether you need medication is often done on a case-by-case basis, depending on what else is going on with your health and on your preferences. If you have: One reading may not be enough to diagnose high blood pressure. Your doctor may want you to have several blood pressure readings over time, to check if it’s consistently too high. A doctor or nurse will measure your blood pressure with a small gauge attached to an inflatable cuff. It's simple and painless. The person taking your blood pressure wraps the cuff around your upper arm. Some cuffs go around the forearm or wrist, but often they aren't as accurate. Your doctor or nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through your artery. They’ll inflate the cuff to a pressure higher than your systolic blood pressure, and it will tighten around your arm. Then they’ll release it. As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first, and then the diastolic number. For example, your numbers may be "120 over 80" or written as 120/80. Keeping track of blood pressure at home is important for many people, especially if you have high blood pressure. This helps you and your doctor find out if your treatment is
working. Your doctor may also suggest that you check your pressure at home if they think you may have "white coat hypertension." It's a real condition. The stress of being in a doctor's office raises your blood pressure, but when you're home, it's normal. Ask your doctor to recommend an easy-to-use home blood pressure monitor. Make sure the cuff fits properly. If your arm is too big for the cuff, the reading may be higher than your blood pressure really is. Ask
your doctor for a larger cuff or make sure you buy a home monitor with a cuff that fits you. You also can use a wrist blood pressure monitor, but they often aren't as accurate. Follow the directions that come with the device to make sure you are using it correctly. No matter which type of blood pressure monitor you have, it's a good idea to take it to your doctor's office. You can compare its reading to the numbers your doctor gets. Avoid
caffeine, cigarettes, and exercise for at least 30 minutes before the test. When you take your blood pressure at home, sit up straight in a chair and put both feet on the floor. Ask your doctor or nurse to show you the
right way to position your arm so you get accurate readings. Check it at the same time of day so the readings are consistent. Then, take several readings about 1 minute apart. Be sure to write down the results. Take the blood pressure journal to your doctor's office so you can talk about any changes in your numbers. Your doctor will decide whether you need medications in addition to lifestyle changes. Even if your blood pressure is high, you probably won't have symptoms. That's
why it's often called the "silent killer." The first symptom of untreated high blood pressure may be a heart attack, stroke, or kidney damage. To keep your blood pressure in the
normal range, your daily habits are key. These things help: Don’t smoke. Among the many health problems that smoking causes, it raises your blood pressure. Make physical activity a habit. Most experts recommend at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity (like biking
or brisk walking) five or more times a week. Or you could do a harder activity for a shorter period of time per session. Eat right. Read food labels to see how much sodium is in a serving. Check with your doctor to find out what your daily limit should be. Include a lot of vegetables and fruits, along with whatever else you choose to put on your plate. Stick
to a healthy weight. Extra pounds raise your blood pressure. If you’re not sure what a healthy weight would be for you, ask your doctor. Get enough sleep. For most adults, that’s
7-8 hours of sleep per night, on a regular basis. If you drink alcohol, limit it to no more than one drink a day if you’re a woman and up to two drinks a day if you’re a man. What is more important the top or bottom number in blood pressure?Q. When I am monitoring my blood pressure, which number is most important — top, bottom, or both? A. While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure.
Which is worse high top number or high bottom number of blood pressure?Most studies show a greater risk of cardiovascular disease (especially strokes) related to high systolic pressure as opposed to elevated diastolic pressure.
When should you worry about the bottom number of blood pressure?Over time, isolated diastolic hypotension can cause heart failure. In fact, it may be one of the most common causes of heart failure. Pay attention to your diastolic number when you have your blood pressure checked. If your lower number is 60 or below, ask a healthcare professional about it.
What happens if bottom number is high on blood pressure?Diastolic pressure is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading. IDH occurs if someone has elevated diastolic blood pressure, increasing a person's risk of heart disease and stroke.
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