Blood pressure is one of the ways that you can monitor your heart health. It shows how hard your blood is pushing against the sides of your blood vessels as it travels around your body. Both diet and exercise can help maintain a healthy blood pressure levels. Read on to find out more about understanding blood pressure. Know your numbers
Your blood pressure reading will appear as two numbers like this: 120/80, which is said ‘120 over 80’. The first number is the systolic pressure which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and blood is pushed around the body. This is taken by inflating and tightening the blood pressure cuff on the upper arm.
The second number is the diastolic pressure which measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood. This is measured when the cuff is deflated.
Blood pressure usually ranges between 90 to 250 for the top or maximum number (systolic) and 60 to 140 for the bottom or minimum number (diastolic).
According to the Blood Pressure Association, a healthy blood pressure is 120/80 or less, but the lower you can get it, the better. It is important to remember that high blood pressure is never diagnosed after just one reading. Only when blood pressure levels are consistently at or greater than 140/90 does it need to be lowered. Raised blood pressure can be an indicator of a more serious illness so always seek advice from a healthcare professional. | 
