Thus if blood pressure is abnormally low or high, it usually indicates that greater health problems are present. Blood pressure is measured at two point, a high point and a low point. The high point is the point at which the heart contracts to empty its blood into the circulation, called systole. The low point is the point at which the heart relaxes to fill with blood returned by the circulation, called diastole. In humans, blood pressure doesn't vary greatly.
Blood pressure increases with age because the arteries loose elasticity.
This is called secondary hypertension. In the other 90 percent of patients, the cause is unknown and is referred to essential hypertension. How to Decrease Blood Pressure There are many ways to decrease blood pressure. Blood pressure can be decreased if a person exercises, doesn't smoke, limits salt intake, limits alcohol intake and if obese, looses weight. Blood pressure is regulated largely by the nervous system.