In late 2017, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology announced updated high blood pressure guidelines. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Systolic pressure, the top number, is the pressure on the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood.ĭiastolic pressure, the bottom number, is the pressure on the arteries in between heartbeats.Īlthough both systolic and diastolic measures are important, research has found that systolic pressure is a strong predictor of heart problems caused by high blood pressure, especially among older adults. For example, a reading might be presented as 120/80. Understanding your blood pressure readingĪ blood pressure reading involves two numbers, one over the other. 2010 38(6):600–609.Making sense of your blood pressure reading can be tricky, but we've broken it down to help you better understand what the numbers mean.
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Rates of High Blood Pressure Vary by Geography