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THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS
"A LITTLE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE"
Every time your heart beats, it's pumping blood through your body's blood vessels—your arteries,
veins, and capillaries. Blood pressure is the measure of the force of blood against the walls of your vessels. If your
blood pressure is at or above 140/90 mm Hg, you have high blood pressure; blood pressure that's between 120/80
and 139/89 mm Hg is considered prehypertensive. Current treatment guidelines recommend medication for people
with high blood pressure and lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise for those who are prehypertensive.
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WHAT YOUR NUMBERS MEAN
A blood pressure reading is usually written as a fraction—such as 140/90 mm Hg or 160/110 mm Hg.
 | The top number (your "systolic" pressure) is your blood pressure when your heart is contracting. This number is often a stronger indicator of how at-risk you may be for heart attack, stroke, or kidney failure. |
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| The bottom number (your "diastolic" pressure) is your blood pressure when your heart is between beats and resting. This number is always lower than the top number. |
WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO TREAT
If left untreated, high blood pressure may damage your blood vessels and restrict blood flow to vital organs.
This can lead to kidney damage, stroke, heart attack, and other serious health problems. Getting your blood pressure down
to healthier levels can help reduce your risk for these serious conditions. You should talk to your doctor to set your blood pressure goals.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE TREATMENT OPTIONS
Along with exercise, health, and dietary changes, your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower
your blood pressure. Here are the facts about treating high blood pressure:
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