Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the inside walls of your blood vessels. Systolic blood pressure is the force of blood on the blood vessel walls when the heart contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is the force of blood on the blood vessel walls when the heart relaxes. A blood pressure of 130 over 85 could be read as a systolic or upper reading of 130 and a diastolic or lower reading of 85. Any blood pressure at or below 130 over 85 is considered normal for adults.
Blood pressure varies during the day and from person to person.
It is usually at its lowest when we are asleep and rises when we awake. It can rise when we are excited, nervous or active. Usually there are no physical signs or feelings that tell you that your blood pressure is high. You can only find out by having your blood pressure checked. Hypertension or high blood pressure is the presence of consistently elevated blood pressure above normal range.