Ways to reduce hypertension high blood pressure Ways to reduce hypertension high blood pressure High blood pressure or hypertension results when the force of circulating blood against blood vessels is overly increased. Often there are no symptoms and a problem is not found until a blood pressure reading is taken or some physical problem presents itself. A blood pressure cuff or sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure. The reading consists of two numbers. The top figure is a measurement of systolic pressure and the bottom diastolic.
Systolic pressure is the force with which the heart works to pump blood through arteries.
The diastolic figure shows the pressure of blood in the arteries between heartbeats. A blood pressure reading of 120 over 80 is within normal limits. However, if a reading is 140 over 90 or higher, medication will probably be prescribed. Left untreated, high blood pressure can cause stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and other serious ailments. There are some ways proven to reduce high blood pressure without the use of medication.