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1. Home
2. Healthy Living
3. Healthy Lifestyle
4. Life's Essential 8
5. How to Manage Blood Pressure Fact Sheet
LIFE'S ESSENTIAL 8™ - HOW TO MANAGE BLOOD PRESSURE FACT SHEET
UNDERSTAND READINGS
Make smart choices and swaps to build an overall healthy eating style. Watch
calories and eat smaller portions.
Blood pressure is typically recorded as two numbers, written as a ratio like
this: 117/76. Read as “117 over 76” millimeters of mercury.
* Systolic: The top number, the higher of the two numbers, measures the
pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle
contracts).
* Diastolic: The bottom number, the lower of the two numbers, measures the
pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between heart beats.
BLOOD PRESSURE CATEGORIES
* Normal: systolic lower than 120 mm Hg and diastolic lower than 80 mm Hg
* Elevated Blood Pressure: diastolic 120 to 129 mm Hg and diastolic 80 mm Hg.
* High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 1: systolic 130 to 139 mm Hg or
diastolic 80 to 89 mm Hg.
* High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) Stage 2: systolic 140 or higher mm Hg or
diastolic 90 or higher mm Hg.
* Hypertensive Crisis (Call your doctor immediately): systolic higher than 180
mm Hg and/or diastolic higher than 120 mm Hg.
TRACK LEVELS
A diagnosis of high blood pressure must be confirmed with a medical
professional. A doctor should also evaluate any unusually low blood pressure
readings. Health care professionals can take blood pressure readings and provide
recommendations.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
* Eat Smart: Eat a healthy diet of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans,
legumes, nuts, plant-based proteins, lean animal proteins like fish and
seafood. Limit sugary foods and drinks, red or processed meats, salty foods,
refined carbohydrates and highly processed foods.
* Move More: Physical activity helps control blood pressure, weight and stress
levels.
* Manage Weight: If you’re overweight, even a slight weight loss can reduce
high blood pressure.
* No Nicotine: Every time you smoke, vape or use tobacco, the nicotine can
cause a temporary increase in blood pressure.
* Sleep Well: Short sleep (less than 7 hours) and poor-quality sleep are
associated with high blood pressure.
View or Download Fact Sheet
English (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)
HOW TO MANAGE BLOOD PRESSURE RESOURCES
BLOOD PRESSURE TOOLKIT
SALT
STRESS MANAGEMENT
RECIPES
LIFE'S ESSENTIAL 8 FACT SHEETS
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Eat Better Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Be More Active Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Quit Tobacco Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Get Healthy Sleep Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Manage Weight Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Control Cholesterol Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Manage Blood Sugar Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 - How to Manage Blood Pressure Fact Sheet
* Life's Essential 8 Fact Sheet
*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved
by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American
Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial
process.
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