As the heart beats, it pumps blood into our arteries, which circulates it throughout the body. On the return trip, blood runs back to the heart through the veins so it can be recirculated. Arteries and veins are called "blood vessels."
The force of blood as it moves through the blood vessels and pushes against the walls of the arteries and veins is called blood pressure.
If there is some problem or obstruction, the heart will have to pump harder to circulate the blood. Under these circumstances blood pressure will be higher, and this can be a serious problem.
What the Numbers Mean
When you get your blood pressure taken at the doctor's, they tell you two numbers, such as "110 over 78."
The first number refers to Systole or contraction, and measures the maximum pressure as the heart contracts. This is called Systolic Pressure.
The second number refers to Diastole, the moment in between beats when the heart is at rest. It measures the blood pressure during this momentary pause and is called Diastolic Pressure.
There are several categories of blood pressure, including:
- Normal: Less than 120/80
- Prehypertension: 120-139/80-89
- Stage 1 hypertension: 140-159/90-99
- Stage 2 hypertension: 160 and above/100 and above
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