Did You Know?

• Approximately 75 million U.S. adults have high blood pressure
• That means nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. has high blood pressure
• Approximately 20% of them are not even aware they have it

Understanding High Blood Pressure

Your blood pressure is made up of two numbers, expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), a special unit that measures pressure. Shown as a fraction, systolic over diastolic, both numbers are important indicators of your blood pressure.

• Systolic: the top number of the fraction is the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats
• Diastolic: the bottom number of the fraction is the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart relaxes between beats

The harder it is for your blood to flow, the higher your blood pressure numbers will be. For most adults, a normal blood pressure is lower than 120/80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure is considered high if it is consistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher.

The top number is the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats—systolic (sis–TOL–ik) pressure

The bottom number is the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart rests between beats—diastolic (di–a–STOL–ik) pressure.

According to National Guidelines