What is blood pressure?Blood pressure, also called hypertension, is the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries.What is a blood pressure measurement blood pressure?The measurement of your blood pressure is expressed by two numbers: example, 120/80. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, is a measure of the force your blood exerts on the blood vessel walls when your heart pumps. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, is a measure of the force that blood exerts on the walls of blood vessels when the heart is resting between beats. What is high blood pressure? High blood pressure means the heart pumps harder to circulate blood. through the body. This can weaken blood vessels and damage major organs, such as the brain. If left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke. Blood pressure, like a person's heart rate, fluctuates occasionally with exercise or stress. For people over 18 years old, an optimal blood pressure value is considered to be 120/80 or less. Blood pressure consistently above 120/80 is considered “pre-hypertension.” High blood pressure or “stage one hypertension” is a measurement of 140/90 or higher. People who have high blood pressure are one and a half times more likely to have a stroke than those who consistently have an optimal blood pressure of 120/80. Anyone who has ever had a heart attack, stroke, has diabetes, kidney disease, high cholesterol, or is overweight should talk to a doctor about controlling and lowering weight aggressive his blood pressure. Maintaining blood pressure below 140/90 may reduce the risk of additional complications. Who suffers from high blood pressure? Up to 73 million Americans have high blood pressure. About 1 in 4 adults with ...... middle of paper ....... Factors to consider in choosing antihypertensive medications include cost, convenience, side effects, and interaction with d other medications. Where can I get more information about high blood pressure? Talk to a doctor about how to control high blood pressure. The key to keeping blood pressure within the normal range is for a person to be committed to actively participating in their health care with a doctor. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health can also provide information. on high blood pressure and its treatment. Visit their website at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/.Back to top | Printable VersionGet InvolvedStroke and YouStroke SurvivorsCaregivers and FamiliesHealthcare ProfessionalsStay Informed » LoginEmail AddressPostal Code