What is a blood pressure reading?

Blood pressure is measured with an inflatable arm cuff and a pressure-measuring gauge, given in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), with two numbers. The first, or upper, number measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats (systolic pressure). The second, or lower, number measures the pressure in your arteries between beats (diastolic pressure).

Because blood pressure tends to fluctuate, a diagnosis of pre-hypertension is based on the average of two or more blood pressure readings taken on separate occasions in a consistent manner.

Normal blood pressure -- below 120/80

Pre-hypertension -- 120/80 to 139/89

Stage 1 hypertension -- 140/90 to 159/99

Stage 2 hypertension -- 160/100 or higher

Who is affected?

For adults under 65, the upper number in a blood pressure reading may be the best indicator of future heart problems or even premature death. Any time the first number is 140 or higher, it's reason concern.

For those 65 and older, readings can vary more and doctors may need to prescribe medication specifically for older patients.

It's important to speak to a physician. You can check your risk of hypertension at the American Heart Association's High Blood Pressure Health Risk Calculator at .

What to do


Use less salt. A lower sodium level -- 1,500 milligrams (mg) a day -- is appropriate for people 51 years of age or older, and individuals of any age who are African-American or who have hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. Otherwise healthy people can aim for 2,300 mg a day or less.


Limit alcohol. If you drink, do so in moderation. For healthy adults: up to one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than age 65, and up to two drinks a day for men age 65 and younger.

Source: The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at nhlbi.nih.gov; the Mayo Clinic at mayoclinic.com; AARP at and the American Heart Association at heart.org.

Hypertension -- high blood pressure -- runs silent and deep in America.

An estimated 68 million adults in the United States, about 1 in 3, have high blood pressure, increasing their risk for heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death in our country.

Known as a "silent killer," hypertension has no symptoms or warning signs, yet contributes to nearly 1,000 deaths per day. It's a sneaky disease that runs counter to common belief -- someone with hypertension isn't necessarily tense, nervous or hyper. Many are calm and cool, with no outward signs of a disease that can do serious damage to the heart, eyes, kidneys and brains.

High blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), occurs when blood flow puts too much pressure or tension on the arteries, causing damage. Arteries that are blocked by cholesterol or have a buildup of plaque, can cause the heart to pump harder to get blood through. Eventually, the muscles and valves in the heart are damaged, leading to heart failure. The kidneys and brain may also be negatively affected when the vessels fail to supply adequate oxygen-rich blood.

Before such critical damage happens, however, some lifesaving steps can be taken by those with pre-hypertension. According to the Mayo Clinic, the period before high blood pressure goes full blown is the perfect time for prevention. During this pre-hypertension period, health-care experts advise having your blood pressure tested regularly and introducing healthy lifestyle changes.

Because there are no overt symptoms, it's important to monitor your blood pressure either through doctor visits or with home checks. Staying in a healthy range -- below 120/80 -- can be as easy as making some simple changes to diet and activity.

A primary risk for hypertension is being overweight or obese. A greater body mass requires more blood to supply oxygen and nutrients to your tissues, increasing the force on artery walls. Family history also increases your chances of having pre-hypertension, as well as being older. Pre-hypertension is also more common in men than women, and in people who have a sedentary lifestyle.

Those with a diet high in sodium are also at risk. Too much sodium affects the way your body regulates blood pressure, so reducing the amount of salt you consume is an easy, positive way to prevent the disease.

Lara Ulfers, registered dietician and nutrition educator in Fort Collins, says 70 percent of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from processed and restaurant food. "It's no wonder we're getting more sodium than we bargained for when an average of five meals are eaten away from home each week," she says. "Less than 15 percent of our salt intake comes from adding salt at the table or while cooking at home."

The United States Department of Agriculture's 2012 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends a sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg per day -- less than 1,500 mg per day if you're 51 years or older, already have hypertension or are diabetic. That 2,300 mg amount, Ulfers notes, is about one teaspoon of salt. "You'll find many restaurant offerings that have much more than that in one serving of food, especially in fast food items," she says.

Sodium amounts on labels of prepared food may also send off warning signs. Ulfers, who also owns her own business, Go-To Nutrition, says when reading nutrition labels, you should compare the milligrams of sodium to the total calories per serving.

"The ideal ratio is 1:1 (mg: total calories) or less. You'll be hard-pressed to find many items that meet this ratio," she says. "When out at restaurants, check for nutrition information posted online or on the menu. Some of the numbers can be a little scary. Consider asking your server to request less salt used in preparation or splitting a meal with the friend."

Some foods work naturally to dilate blood vessels. An easy way to counter hypertension is to cut down on saturated fats and to eat heart-healthy foods. Anthrocyanins found in blueberries, strawberries and raspberries protect against hypertension, as does fiber-rich oatmeal. The AHA recommends introducing beet juice to your diet for its nitrates, which can lower blood pressure within a few hours, much like a nitrate tablet.

Flavonoids in dark chocolate aid in dilating blood vessels, while foods high in potassium and magnesium -- spinach, bananas, white potatoes (hold the butter and sour cream) -- can significantly lower high blood pressure, according to the AHA.
