Lifestyle changes are very important to help manage high blood pressure and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. You will be more at risk of these problems if you: If your blood pressure remains high, it can lead to serious health problems. If your blood pressure is вЂhighвЂ“normalвЂ™ (or higher вЂ“ for example 140/95), or if you have other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as a personal or family history of high blood pressure, strokeВ or heart attack, it is best to have it checked more frequently вЂ“ such as every 6 to 12 months or as directed by your doctor. Your doctor can also check your blood pressure during routine visits. If your blood pressure is in the healthy range and you have no other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and no personal or family history of high blood pressure, it is still important to have a check at least every two years. Low blood pressure is relative вЂ“ what is low for one person may be okay for another вЂ“ and is only considered a problem if it has a negative impact on your body or it affects the way you feel. The only way to find out if your blood pressure is high is to have it checked regularly by your doctor. You can have high blood pressure and feel perfectly well. High blood pressure usually does not give warning signs. The following figures should only be used as a guide: Your doctor will advise you about what your ideal blood pressure is based on your circumstances, including your overall health. What is considered a healthy blood pressure varies from person to person. Your doctor may also recommend that you measure your blood pressure at home or have a 24-hour recording with a monitoring device. If a reading is high, your doctor may measure your blood pressure again on several separate occasions to confirm the level. Your blood pressure changes to meet your bodyвЂ™s needs. Both are measured in units called millimetres of mercury (mmHg). This is called the diastolic blood pressure. The lower number indicates the pressure as the heart relaxes before the next beat. This is called the systolic blood pressure. The larger number indicates the pressure in the arteries as the heart pumps out blood during each beat. (This cuff is part of a machine called a sphygmomanometer.)Д«lood pressure is recorded as two numbers, such as 120/80. Blood pressure is usually measured by wrapping an inflatable pressure cuff around your upper arm. It is best to measure blood pressure when you are relaxed and sitting. The medical name for persistently high blood pressure is hypertensionВ and the medical name for low blood pressure is hypotension. If blood pressure remains high, it can lead to serious problems like heart attack, stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. It is affected by various factors, including body position, breathing, emotional state, exercise and sleep. Blood pressure does not stay the same all the time. Blood pressure is the pressure of the blood in the arteries as it is pumped around the body by the heart.

Normal blood pressure range