Did you know that one in three U.S. adults has high blood pressure? By 2030, it is expected that over 41 percent of U.S. adults will have this condition. The normal blood pressure for adults age 20 or over is no higher than 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
The first number in your blood pressure reading is always larger and refers to systolic BP (the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats). The second number in the reading is always smaller and refers to diastolic BP, the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats and refills with blood.
RVNAhealth offers blood pressure screenings throughout each month. View our Community Events Calendar for dates, times and locations.
The infographic below from the American Heart Association is a handy source for understanding your blood pressure and recommendations for ensure that you get a proper reading.
Recommendations include:
- Don’t smoke, exercise, drink caffeinated beverages or alcohol within 30 minutes of measurement.
- Rest in a chair for at least 5 minutes with your left arm resting comfortably on a flat surface at heart level. Sit calmly and don’t talk.
- Make sure you’re relaxed. Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor with your back straight and supported.
- Take at least two readings 1 minute apart in the morning before taking medications, and in the evening before dinner. Record all results.
- Use properly calibrated and validated instrument, check the cuff size and fit.
- Place the bottom of the cuff above the bend of the elbow.
