When doctors take your blood pressure, they're measuring how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your blood vessels as it moves around your body. If you have

 

 

 

 

 

high blood pressure
Your blood pressure is considered to be high when it is above the accepted normal range. The usual limit for normal blood pressure is 140/90. If either the first (systolic) number is above 140 or the lower (diastolic) number is above 90, a person is considered to have high blood pressure. Doctors sometimes call high blood pressure "hypertension."

 

 

 

 

 

high blood pressure, it can damage the inside of your

 

 

 

 

 

arteries
Arteries are the blood vessels that take blood that is rich in oxygen and food away from your heart. The arteries carry this blood to all the tissues in your body.

 

 

 

 

 

arteries. This makes it easier for fatty deposits to build up. So as your blood pressure rises, so does your risk of getting heart disease and having a heart attack.

High blood pressure is particularly dangerous if you have other things that make it more likely that you'll get heart disease. If your blood pressure is high, talk to your doctor about how you can lower it. To learn more, see our article on High blood pressure.

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