What's A Healthy Blood Pressure?

February 22, 2011 Updated Feb 22, 2011 at 9:55 PM EDT

By WKBW News


(WKBW/Cleveland Clinic) You could call blood pressure the scoreboard for your heart, and it's a game you can't afford to lose.

Genetics, stress, and diet all affect blood pressure, and when it's high, doctors say there's an increased pressure on the inner walls of blood vessels, causing the vessels to become less flexible over time and more vulnerable to the buildup of fatty deposits that can clog them.

High blood pressure also forces the heart to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. That's why it's important to know your numbers.

Doctors say your blood pressure shouldn't be higher than 120 over 80, and say a good way to have an immediate, positive impact on your blood pressure, is to exercise.
