According to the National Institutes of Health, heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, and stroke is the third most common cause of death. If your blood pressure is normal, there are certain measures that can prevent hypertension from developing. These same measures also can help you lower your blood pressure if it is high. Each time a person's heart beats, it pushes blood from the heart through arteries to all of the body's tissues and organs.
Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against artery walls.
Having your blood pressure checked is quick, easy and painless. It is done with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A blood pressure cuff is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated to stop the blood flow in the artery for a few seconds. A valve then is opened and air is released from the cuff. The sound of blood rushing through the artery can be heard through a stethoscope.