Measure your blood pressure. Updated November 30, Wide pulse pressure: A clinical review. J Clin Hypertens. National Institutes of Health. Orthostatic hypotension.
Genetics Home Reference. Updated August 18, Hydration status and cardiovascular function. American Heart Association. Monitoring your blood pressure at home. Patient preferences for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices: Wrist-type or arm-type? Shimosawa T, ed. Measurement of blood pressure in humans: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth.
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I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Blood Pressure Overview. Systolic Blood Pressure. Diastolic Blood Pressure. Improving Accuracy. The diastolic blood pressure reading is the lower number. The units are millimeters of mercury mmHg.
Recap Your systolic blood pressure is the higher and first number in a blood pressure reading. The Heart's Chambers and Valves. Frequently Asked Questions What is systolic blood pressure? What is diastolic blood pressure? Which is more important: systolic or diastolic blood pressure readings? What is considered dangerously high blood pressure? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign Up. What are your concerns?
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Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Whelton PK, et al. In press. Accessed Dec. Understanding blood pressure readings. American Heart Association. Accessed Jan. Carey RM, et al. Taler SJ.
Initial treatment of hypertension. The New England Journal of Medicine. See also Medication-free hypertension control 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use? The American Heart Association describes the different blood pressure ranges for adults as:.
Your doctor may diagnose high blood pressure if either your systolic or diastolic is high, or if both numbers are high. Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure need to be managed. According to the American College of Cardiology , almost half of the adults in the United States now fit the new definition of high blood pressure. Not surprisingly, the risk factors for these two conditions are very different. Your gender affects your risk of high blood pressure.
The American Heart Association states that men are at a higher risk of high blood pressure than women are until age But at 65 years and older, women are at higher risk than men. Your risk is also higher if:. When your breathing is inadequate, your oxygen levels fall and your blood vessels constrict. This increases your blood pressure. When sleep apnea is persistent, this increased blood pressure may continue during the day when breathing is normal. Properly treating sleep apnea will help lower blood pressure.
Endocrine problems, neurological diseases, heart problems, heart failure , and anemia may also cause the condition. You may also be at risk for low blood pressure if you become dehydrated or take certain prescription drugs such as:.
Low blood pressure can also be caused by a variety of heart, hormonal, or nervous system problems. These include:.
Lifestyle changes are recommended as the first step in treating any stage of high blood pressure. These changes may include:. If you are, your doctor might recommend stopping that drug, changing medications, or adjusting your dosage. However, lifestyle changes and medication adjustments may not be enough to bring your blood pressure numbers down.
If a medication is causing your low blood pressure, your doctor may change your dosage of that drug or stop your treatment with it. If your low blood pressure is caused by an infection, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Proper management of the problem can help improve or limit episodes of low blood pressure. Unmanaged high blood pressure can lead to:. Symptoms or complications that may occur from low blood pressure can include:.
You may head off blood pressure problems before they start, or limit your risk, if you follow a healthy lifestyle. In addition, if you suspect you have sleep apnea symptoms, such as heavy snoring, daytime sleepiness, or restless sleep, talk to your doctor about a sleep study.
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