

Or you can use a digital blood pressure monitor with automatic cuff inflation. You can use an inflatable cuff, similar to those used at your doctor’s office. But you can also check your blood pressure readings at home. Usually, before a doctor’s appointment, a nurse checks your blood pressure to make sure it’s not too low or too high. This article will take a closer look at blood pressure readings for adults, children, and pregnant people, what those readings mean, and the treatment options that are available for managing your blood pressure. This is written as 120/80 mm Hg, and you’d say this is “120 over 80.” Normal blood pressure for most adults is considered to be 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or lower. This is the pressure in your arteries when your heart relaxes between beats.

Your blood pressure reading has two numbers. High blood pressure, known in medical terms as hypertension, is when blood flows through your arteries with excessive force or pressure. A healthy reading varies by your age, gender, and pregnancy status.īlood pressure is the force of your blood against the walls of your arteries as its pumped through your body by your heart. It can raise your risk for heart attack and stroke.

A high blood pressure reading means blood travels through your body with excessive force.
