How do I understand my blood pressure readings?

Have you been trying to measure your blood pressure but the readings look like an ancient language you’ve never studied? We get it! This article will look at what all those numbers mean, helping you to understand your blood pressure readings better and then take the right steps to help you live a healthier life.

But let’s just take a moment and understand exactly what our blood pressure is. Simply put, it’s the force placed on the walls of your arteries as your heart pumps blood around your body. If it is too high then this puts a strain on your heart and blood vessels and makes you more susceptible to heart attacks and strokes.

So, what do your blood pressure readings mean?

Blood pressure is actually measured in millimetres of mercury, mmHg. Your readings will show two numbers, such as 130/80, or “130 over 80”. The first is your systolic blood pressure, the maximum pressure your blood attains as your heart beats and pushes it around your body. The second is your diastolic pressure, the minimum level it reaches between beats.

When should I worry about my blood pressure?

So, remember those two numbers from your readings? Normal blood pressure is usually considered to be around 120 – 129 over 80 – 84. If you start going above that, from 130/80 to 140/90 then, according to 2018 ESC/ESH Guidelines, you could be at risk of hypertension. If your blood pressure is over 140/90 then you are likely to have hypertension. (At home, where you’re probably more relaxed, the limit is usually a bit lower at 135/85.) However, if your blood pressure readings have reached 180/120 then you need to call a doctor immediately. This is a hypertensive crisis and needs immediate treatment.

For people over 40 years old, your systolic blood pressure, the top number, is more important than diastolic blood pressure. That’s because it’s a better predictor of stroke and heart attack. And only one of the two numbers has to be higher than it should be to count as high blood pressure so keep an eye on both!

To recap:

• If you’re between 120/80 or 129/84 then you’re seeing a normal blood pressure reading

• If you’re between 120/80 and 140/90 then you’re possibly at risk of high blood pressure or have ‘pre-hypertension’

• Above 140/90 means you may have hypertension

• If you’re at 180/120 then you need to see a doctor immediately

The great news is that if you’re regularly monitoring your blood pressure you can get ahead of any risks. Using an at-home, connected blood pressure monitors also allows you to share your readings with your doctor. This keeps them informed so that they can adjust or recommend treatment plans and help you make the most of consultation times. Monitoring regularly also means you can understand what affects your body and make smarter choices for a healthier lifestyle.

Here’s a handy blood pressure chart where you can check your readings. To check your blood pressure against the chart, start from your systolic pressure on the left-hand side, and move your finger to the right until you reach your diastolic pressure. The colour will tell you whether you have normal or abnormal blood pressure.

Even easier, if you download the OMRON connect app, you can find this chart as well as the colours. Taking just one reading won’t tell you very much but taking a number of readings and averaging them or using the OMRON blood pressure diary will keep you making the right choices and staying within your ideal blood pressure. In fact, that might be the perfect reason for a (sensible) reward.

You should now feel really well equipped to continue your journey, fully fluent in the language of blood pressure and heart health.