How to Read Blood Pressure

Did your doctor tell you what your blood pressure was? When he or she told you did it dawn on you that you don’t even know what the numbers mean? If so, you aren’t alone. Most people don’t know how to read blood pressure and even if they see the numbers they don’t know what they mean. When your doctor tells you that your blood pressure is 120 over 80 do you know what that means? Probably not, but it’s quite easy to learn!

Reading and Understanding Your Blood Pressure

When your doctor tells you what your blood pressure is or when you see it on your own sphygmomanometer you’ll see that it has two numbers. Your blood pressure is made up of your systolic blood pressure and your diastolic blood pressure. When your doctor says that your blood pressure is 120 over 80 the 120 reading is the systolic blood pressure and the 80 is the diastolic blood pressure.

Your systolic blood pressure should always be higher than your diastolic blood pressure. The reason for this is that this is the measurement of the force of the blood against the walls of your arteries when your heart actually beats. This is the most forceful part of the blood flow because your body is literally pushing it from the heart to the rest of your body. A healthy systolic blood pressure is 120, give or take a few points.

Your diastolic number will be less than your systolic blood pressure number. You will want your diastolic blood pressure reading to be somewhere around 80 but under 90 as 90 is a sign that you may have high blood pressure, which is also known as hypertension. The diastolic blood pressure reading is lower because it is the measured force or pressure within the arteries in between heart beats.

If you are worried about your blood pressure you can visit your doctor and talk to him or her about it. Another option is to buy your own digital blood pressure monitor. It is difficult to take your own blood pressure with a traditional sphygmomanometer but it is quite simple with one of the digital machines. You need to be relaxed and seated. If you get a high reading you should repeat the reading again to be sure it was accurate. If you consistently get high or low readings, you should visit the doctor.