What Every Adult Should Know About Checking Their Blood Pressure At Home
Understanding Blood Pressure Basics: Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. It is measured using two numbers. The top number, called systolic pressure, shows how hard your heart pumps blood. The bottom number, called diastolic pressure, shows the pressure when your heart rests between beats. A normal reading is usually around 120 over 80. Higher numbers may mean your heart is working harder than it should. Over time, high blood pressure can raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems.