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The following article is from a series of heart fitness articles and videos about blood pressure …

Blood pressure is a health topic that is discussed almost everywhere you turn. Although most people know that it is important, fewer people really know what it is and why blood pressure is so important to the state of your health.

Blood is constantly being moved throughout your body via your blood vessels and arteries. Blood pressure measures the force of your blood that is pushing against the walls of your arteries as it passes through your arteries.

Every time your heart beats, which is about 60 to 70 times per minute for the average, healthy person when resting, it pumps blood out through the arteries which then carry it to every area of your body.

The blood pressure reading is at its highest when the heart beats and pushes out blood. This is referred to in medical terms as the systolic blood pressure. In between the beats your heart is at rest and the pressure in your arteries falls, this is referred to as the diastolic blood pressure reading.

Blood pressure readings are always measured as a pair of numbers which represent the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, which are both important measurements. These numbers are generally written as one preceding the other separated with a slash, such as 110/75 mmHg. The first number, also called the top number, is the systolic reading. The second number, or bottom number, is the reading for the diastolic blood pressure measurement.

When this pair of numbers is recorded, the systolic blood pressure measurement is recorded first followed by the diastolic blood pressure measurement and in speaking of these measurements, it is common to say “my blood pressure is 110 over 75″ which is recorded as 110/75.

Your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day depending on your activities, your levels of stress and your emotional states. It will be at its lowest while you are resting, especially during sleep and rises during the day. If you spend much of your time sitting or standing it will remain relatively stable throughout the day.

The ideal blood pressure level is under 120/80. When the readings stay consistently high, such as at the point of 140/90, then you are considered to have high blood pressure. This is a health concern because this condition causes the heart to work harder, which will place stress on your arteries. It also raises the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney problems, such as kidney stones and kidney failure.

One common question people have is, what causes high blood pressure? Unfortunately, the answer is not simple and straightforward for many people because a single, specific cause cannot be pinpointed. This is known as primary or essential high blood pressure and there is ongoing research to discover the causes.

However, for others the condition is known to be a result of a specific medical problem they have or is caused by a medication they are taking. Under these conditions, this is known as secondary high blood pressure.

Blood pressure is an important indication of the state of your health and should be regularly monitored, especially if it starts to read above the 120/80 mark on a regular basis. You should routinely consult a medical professional if your blood pressure reads over 140/90 often.

For more information on blood pressure, visit: Coronary Risks

Tags: Health, Exercise, Fitness