Only twenty percent of Americans with high blood pressure are doing something to control the problem. High blood pressure, or hypertension, affects more than 50 million people each year. Here's information to help you detect, prevent and treat this common disease. Understanding Your Blood Pressure Reading Blood pressure is the amount of force pushing against blood vessel walls. Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure in blood vessels when the heart beats.
Diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure in blood vessels when the heart relaxes between beats.
Visit with your doctor about the blood pressure reading that would be most appropriate for you. It is important to make changes in your lifestyle to lower your blood pressure and help reduce your risk of heart disease. The more risk factors you identify, the greater your risk of developing hypertension. High Blood Pressure High blood pressure can often be controlled with changes in exercise and diet. Lowering your saturated fat and sodium intake and controlling your weight are two easy ways to prevent hypertension.