The following extract is from a series of health and fitness related articles and videos about blood pressure …

Often, it seems that blood pressure is a hot issue that is referenced almost everywhere you turn. Even though most of us know that it is important, not many people really know what blood pressure is and why it is so important to the state of your health.

Blood is continuously moving throughout the body via the blood vessels and arteries. Blood pressure measures the force of the blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as it passes through them.

Every time the heart beats, which is about 60 to 70 times a minute for an 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 known as the systolic blood pressure. In between the beats your heart is at rest and the pressure in your arteries falls, this is the diastolic blood pressure reading.

Blood pressure measurements are always presented as a pair of numbers which represent the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure, which are both vital measurements. These numbers are generally written as one preceding the other separated with a slash, such as 110/75 mmHg. The first number, also referred to as 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 when speaking of these measurements, it is common to say “my blood pressure is 110 over 75″ and is recorded as 110/75.

Your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day depending on your activities, your stress levels 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 measurements 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 state causes the heart to work harder, which will place stress on the arteries. It also increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney problems, such as kidney stones and kidney failure.

One typical question people have is, what causes high blood pressure? Unfortunately, the answer is not simple and straightforward for most 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 learn more about 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 circumstances, this is known as secondary high blood pressure.

Your blood pressure levels are an important indicator of your overall health and because of that, regular blood pressure monitoring is also important, especially if you start to see a trend where it consistently is above 120/80. If your blood pressure is frequently above 140/90, then it’s time to see your physician.

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