What Is High Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other healthcare provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts.

Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body. The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the pressure inside the artery when the heart is at rest and is filling with blood. Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury).

With high blood pressure, the arteries may have an increased resistance against the flow of blood, causing the heart to pump harder to circulate the blood. According to the American Heart Association, high blood pressure for adults is defined as:

140 mm Hg or greater systolic pressure

and/or

90 mm Hg or greater diastolic pressure

The American Heart Association lists the following categories of high blood pressure:

Category	Systolic		Diastolic
Stage 1 (mild)	140 - 159 mm Hg	Or	90 - 99 mm Hg
Stage 2 (moderate)	160 - 179 mm Hg	Or	100 - 109 mm Hg
Stage 3 (severe)	180 or higher mm Hg	Or	110 or higher mm Hg

Facts About Heart Failure and High Blood Pressure

According to the American Heart Association:

• Almost five million Americans have congestive heart failure.
  
  
• An estimated 550,000 new cases of congestive heart failure are diagnosed in the US each year.
  
  
• Congestive heart failure is more common among older Americans.
  
  
• Approximately 50 million Americans have high blood pressure.
  

Always consult your physician for more information.  

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