As a nurse practitioner, I review blood pressure many times a day. It’s a simple test, but it tells us a lot about how healthy your heart and blood vessels are. Many people know their numbers but aren’t sure what they mean. Let’s go over it together.

What Does Blood Pressure Mean?

Blood pressure measures how hard your blood pushes against your artery walls as your heart pumps. The reading has two numbers:

Top number (systolic): The pressure when your heart beats.
Bottom number (diastolic): The pressure when your heart rests between beats.

For example, if your blood pressure is 120/80, that means your systolic pressure is 120, and your diastolic pressure is 80.

What Is a Normal Blood Pressure?

According to the American Heart Association:

Normal: Less than 120/80 mmHg
Elevated: Top number 120–129, bottom number less than 80
High Blood Pressure (Stage 1): Top number 130–139 or bottom number 80–89
High Blood Pressure (Stage 2): Top number 140 or higher or bottom number 90 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis: Higher than 180/120 — this is an emergency.

Why Does It Matter?

Keeping your blood pressure normal helps protect your heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) can cause damage slowly over time, even if you feel fine. If it’s not treated, it can lead to:

Heart attack or stroke
Kidney problems
Vision loss
Heart failure
Memory and thinking problems later in life

How Can You Keep Your Blood Pressure Healthy?

Here are some steps that really help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range:

Eat smart. Choose fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Try to eat less salt and fewer processed foods.
Be active. Move your body for at least 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.
Maintain a healthy weight. Even losing a few pounds can help lower your blood pressure.
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol. Both can raise your blood pressure.
Manage stress. Try deep breathing, walking, or spending time doing things you enjoy.
Check your blood pressure at home. Write down your numbers and share them with your healthcare provider.

Blood Pressure FAQs

What is considered a normal blood pressure reading?
Normal blood pressure is typically around 120/80 mmHg, but ideal numbers can vary depending on age, health conditions, and lifestyle factors.

What factors can affect blood pressure readings?
Blood pressure can be influenced by stress, diet, physical activity, sleep, medications, and even the time of day.

Why is it important to monitor blood pressure regularly?
Consistently high or low blood pressure can indicate underlying health issues and increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, or kidney problems. Regular monitoring helps you and your healthcare provider catch changes early.

What lifestyle changes can help maintain healthy blood pressure?
Maintaining a balanced diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, limiting alcohol and sodium intake, and avoiding tobacco are all key strategies to support healthy blood pressure.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

If your blood pressure is often above normal, don’t ignore it. Talk with your healthcare provider. With early care and healthy habits, high blood pressure can be managed — and even prevented.

In short: A normal blood pressure is less than 120/80 mmHg. Keeping it in this range helps your heart stay strong and your body healthy for years to come.

Your heart works hard for you every day — take care of it!

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About Two Roads Wellness Clinic®

Two Roads Wellness Clinic® is an integrative wellness clinic. We truly believe in whole-person wellness and see more than just a list of symptoms.

At Two Roads Wellness Clinic®, we want you to experience the difference of personalized health care. We’re an integrative health clinic offering a vast array of services including, mental health treatments such as EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing), family therapy, medication management, primary care, integrative nutritional support, personalized health reports and precision medicine with DNA testing, weight management program, life coaching, physical therapy, infrared sauna services, community education and outreach, and more.

The Two Roads Wellness Clinic® team of therapists, medical and nutrition staff, life coaches, physical therapists, and emotional support animals are ready to help you find an integrated approach to your wellness. To schedule an appointment, visit our contact page to get started at one of our convenient locations in Champaign, Danville, Mahomet or Covington, or learn more about Online Therapy and Medical Sessions.

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And that has made all the difference.”
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