Blood Pressure Chart

Understanding the Blood Pressure Chart:

• Systolic value (Y axis) measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart is forcing blood through them.
• Diastolic value (X axis) measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes or at rest.
• mmHG is the unit measure - millimeters of mercury.
• The greater number reading is always the systolic measurement, and the lesser number is the diastolic measurement.

Example Blood Pressure Numbers and What it Means:

• 140/90mmHG - one hundred forty over ninety (systolic/diastolic mmHG)
• Both numbers are high and fall under the mild to moderate hypertension range according to the blood pressure chart.
• A high blood pressure means the heart is exerting more force to distribute the same quantity of blood within the same time. Your heart is being overworked, even when you are at a resting state.
• High levels of constant stress to artery walls can lead to heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney disease.
• Seek medical attention from a healthcare professional who can prescribe medicine to help lower your blood pressure.

Lifestyle Changes to Consider:

• Weight loss - individuals with a BMI higher than 30 are at a greater risk.
• Increase daily physical activity - less active lifestyles lead to obesity.
• Limit salt intake - processed foods contain a lot of salt.
• Limit or eliminate alcohol consumption - there's a strong correlation of increased blood pressure with heavy alcohol consumption. Drinking places heavy stress on your organs, especially the liver.
• Stress - under stressful conditions, our hearts are working overtime.
• Stop smoking - nicotine constricts blood vessels. Studies have concluded that smoking damages the heart and arteries.

Other Risk Factors Beyond our Control:

• Race - studies have confirmed that blacks have the highest risk of developing high blood pressure among all races.
• Heredity - a common question asked by doctors is "Did your parents or anyone in your family have known cases of high blood pressure?" If the answer is "Yes", then you are more likely than someone who responded "No" to develop high blood pressure.
• Age - the older you are, the higher chances of developing high blood pressure. That is why it is important to have regular health checkups.

The blood pressure chart is presented as an informational tool, and should not be a substitute for professional advice. Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional in making decisions on changing your lifestyles to better manage your blood pressure. The one important thing to take away from using this blood pressure chart is to understand that a healthy adult's reading should be less than 130/85 mmHG. For younger people, blood pressure numbers below 120/80 mmHG is healthy.

High blood pressure is easy to detect and treat if you choose to understand where your current condition lies within the blood pressure chart, and take the necessary steps to make lifestyle changes. High blood pressure leads to heart attacks, heart failures, strokes and kidney diseases. Not the other way around. If the latter condition occurs before high blood pressure is detected, it can be fatal.