Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. If you have high blood pressure, your heart is pumping harder to move blood through the body. This can weaken blood vessels and damage major organs such as the brain. Left untreated, high blood pressure can lead to stroke.

Blood Pressure Guidelines

• A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal. In general, the lower the blood pressure, the better.
• A blood pressure reading of 120-39/80-89 is considered pre-hypertension. People with pre-hypertension are at an increased risk for high blood pressure, or hypertension.
• A blood pressure reading of 140/90 or above is considered high blood pressure, or hypertension.

The Realities of High Blood Pressure 

• High blood pressure is a common condition, affecting 65 million Americans - 1 in 3 adults
• High blood pressure increases stroke risk 4-6 times
• High blood pressure is the most common cause of stroke
• High blood pressure usually has no signs or symptoms

What To Do

• Talk to your doctor about high blood pressure
• If you have high blood pressure - don't ignore it - take steps to treat it
• Have your blood pressure checked regularly - know your numbers!
• Exercise regularly, don't smoke (or if you are a smoker, quit), eat a healthy diet, drink alcohol only in moderation