Blood Pressure
High blood pressure usually has no symptoms. The only way to know your numbers is to get checked.
What is blood pressure?
Every time your heart beats, it pushes blood through tubes called arteries. Blood pressure is how hard that blood pushes against the walls of your arteries.
A reading has two numbers, like 120/80:
- The top number is the pressure when your heart beats.
- The bottom number is the pressure when your heart rests between beats.
High blood pressure (also called hypertension) means the push is too strong, too much of the time.
Why it matters
High blood pressure makes your heart work harder and slowly damages your arteries. Over time, that can lead to a heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, or vision problems.
The tricky part is that it usually doesn’t hurt. Lots of people in our community feel fine and have no idea their numbers are high. The good news is that blood pressure is easy to check, and small changes really do help.
Quick facts
- Nearly half of adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure, and many of them don't know it.
- A healthy reading for most adults is below 120/80.
- High blood pressure is a leading cause of heart attacks and strokes.
- You can get your blood pressure checked for free at many pharmacies and health fairs.
Know the signs
- Most of the time there are no signs at all. That is why it's called the "silent killer."
- Readings of 130/80 or higher on more than one day.
- Very high blood pressure can cause a bad headache, chest pain, shortness of breath, blurry vision, or confusion.
Don't wait to feel sick. Getting checked is the only way to know.
What you can do today
- Check your blood pressure. Many pharmacies have a free machine, or ask at your next doctor visit.
- Cut back on salt. Look at the "sodium" line on food labels and choose lower numbers. Go easy on chips, canned soup, and fast food.
- Move your body for 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. A brisk walk around the block counts.
- Fill half your plate with fruits and vegetables.
- If you smoke or vape, get help to quit. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) for free help.
When to see a doctor
- Your blood pressure is 130/80 or higher on two or more different days.
- You're 18 or older and haven't had your blood pressure checked in the last year.
- You take blood pressure medicine and your numbers are still high, or you have side effects.
- High blood pressure runs in your family, or you have diabetes or kidney disease.
Call 911 if your blood pressure is 180/120 or higher AND you have chest pain, shortness of breath, back pain, numbness or weakness, vision changes, or trouble speaking.
From trusted health sites
Up-to-date info about blood pressure from U.S. government health websites.
Helpful links
Hand-picked pages from trusted health organizations.
- CDCHigh Blood Pressure BasicsWhat high blood pressure is and who is at risk.(opens in a new tab)
- American Heart AssociationUnderstanding Blood Pressure ReadingsA simple chart that explains what your numbers mean.(opens in a new tab)
- American Heart AssociationMonitoring Your Blood Pressure at HomeHow to take an accurate reading at home.(opens in a new tab)
- NHLBI (National Institutes of Health)High Blood PressureCauses, risk factors, treatment, and living with it.(opens in a new tab)
- CDCPreventing High Blood PressureEveryday habits that help keep your numbers healthy.(opens in a new tab)
Printed from https://chshealthcare.org/topics/blood-pressure/ · Know Your Health, Clyde · Clyde High School CmPS 2026–27