{"id":14563,"date":"2018-02-12T14:41:17","date_gmt":"2018-02-12T21:41:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=14563"},"modified":"2025-08-20T13:16:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-20T19:16:44","slug":"whats-in-a-number-blood-pressure-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/whats-in-a-number-blood-pressure-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s in a number? Blood pressure explained"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
\"A
Photo: Getty Images.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recently updated blood pressure guidelines have a lot of people looking at their numbers. But what exactly do those numbers mean? Below, Dr. Will Baker<\/a>, a cardiologist with UCHealth Heart and Vascular Clinics in Steamboat Springs<\/a> and Craig<\/a>, outlines what you need to know.<\/p>\n

The basics of blood pressure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A blood pressure reading is made up of two numbers expressed as a fraction. The top number, or systolic pressure, measures how much pressure is in the arteries when the heart contracts. The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, measures the blood pressure between beats.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen your heart pumps, all that blood rushes and fills your arteries,\u201d Baker said. \u201cIt\u2019s just like plumbing: if you\u2019re pumping more water into the system, the pressure inside the plumbing goes up. That\u2019s your systolic reading. When the heart relaxes and fills, the reading falls and you get the lower number, or your diastolic reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which number matters more?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The answer is both. Years ago, doctors focused more on the bottom number, but it is now understood that the top number is just as important.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth numbers can define high blood pressure and the need for treatment,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n

A normal reading is less than 120 over 80. Readings above that are now considered elevated or high. The new guidelines, which were announced last November and are based on years of data, now mean that many more Americans are categorized as having high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

\u201cHigh blood pressure is not a disease by itself, but it\u2019s a risk factor for things like heart attack, kidney failure, stroke and more,\u201d Baker said. \u201cThe new guidelines don\u2019t necessarily mean that many more people have to be on medication. They just mean a very large number of people need to be aware they have elevated or high blood pressure and need to do something about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Measure multiple times<\/strong><\/h2>\n

One high reading does not mean you have high blood pressure. Especially if that reading was taken minutes after you walked into a doctor\u2019s office feeling stressed because you were late.<\/p>\n

Patients should be relaxed and sitting quietly before a reading is taken. If the reading is high, another reading should be taken.<\/p>\n

Baker also recommends using a blood pressure cuff at home to monitor progress of treatment<\/a>. Be sure you\u2019re relaxed and sitting, and take the average of two or three consecutive readings.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverybody\u2019s blood pressure fluctuates from day to day, across times of day,\u201d Baker said. \u201cWe\u2019re really looking at your average trend.\u201d<\/p>\n

What causes high blood pressure?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Unfortunately, there\u2019s not a simple answer. High blood pressure can be caused by anything from kidney function to blood vessel health to hormones.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s really a complicated system,\u201d Baker said. \u201cMany things can play a part in determining a person\u2019s blood pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s one reason different blood pressure medications affect different processes, such as kidney function, fluid retention and even the nervous system.<\/p>\n

What you can do<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Treatment varies depending on your numbers, family history and other factors, such as whether you\u2019ve had a heart attack or stroke, or whether you suffer from diabetes or kidney disease.<\/p>\n

But everyone with elevated readings can benefit from lifestyle changes, such as eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol and quitting smoking.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike all lifestyle treatments, it takes a real commitment,\u201d Baker said.<\/p>\n

This hard work does pay off, as results are usually seen in two or three months.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve seen people focus on their lifestyle and within three months, they see a five to 10 point drop,\u201d Baker said. \u201cYou can see pretty quick results.\u201d<\/p>\n

This article first appeared in the Steamboat Pilot & Today on Feb. 5, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recently updated blood pressure guidelines have a lot of people looking at their numbers. But what exactly do those numbers mean? Below, Dr. Will Baker, a cardiologist with UCHealth Heart and Vascular Clinics in Steamboat Springs and Craig, outlines what you need to know. 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