A blood pressure reading tells you how hard your blood is pushing against your artery walls. It’s written as two numbers, like 120/80 mmHg.
🩺 Understanding the Numbers
- Top number (Systolic): Pressure when your heart beats
- Bottom number (Diastolic): Pressure when your heart rests between beats
📊 Blood Pressure Categories
| Category | Reading |
|---|---|
| Normal | Less than 120 / 80 |
| Elevated | 120–129 / Less than 80 |
| High (Stage 1) | 130–139 / 80–89 |
| High (Stage 2) | 140+ / 90+ |
| Crisis | 180+ / 120+ |
High blood pressure is also called Hypertension.
⚠️ Why It Matters
Consistently high readings can increase risk of:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Kidney problems
🧪 How to Measure Correctly
- Sit calmly for 5 minutes before measuring
- Keep your arm at heart level
- Avoid caffeine or smoking 30 minutes before
- Take 2–3 readings and average them
🟢 What’s a Good Reading?
- Around 120/80 mmHg is considered ideal
- Slight variations are normal depending on time of day, stress, and activity
🚨 When to Seek Help
- If readings are consistently above 140/90
- If you ever get 180/120 or higher, seek urgent care
If you want, tell me your exact reading, and I can help you interpret whether it’s normal or something to watch closely.
