subject: How to Reduce High Blood Pressure by:Chris Chenoweth [print this page] Everyone has 'blood pressure'Everyone has 'blood pressure'. It is a measure of how hard your heart has to work in order to pump blood around your body.
Normal blood pressure levels:
The 'normal' level is usually said to be 120 (systolic) over 80 (diastolic), although this varies with age, stress and activity. If your blood pressure is higher than 140/90, you should have a chat with your doctor.
How to find out if your blood pressure is high:
A person with high blood pressure can look and feel perfectly OK. There are usually very few obvious symptoms. The only way to know what your blood pressure is, is to have it measured. So if you haven't had it checked in the last couple of years, get it checked. If you are aged 40 or over, you should get it checked about once a year, especially if you smoke or suffer from obesity or drink to excess.
If you have high blood pressure:
The most important thing is, DON'T PANIC! High blood pressure is relatively common and is caused by a variety of factors. Fortunately, it usually responds very well to proper treatment, so - don't worry!
Causes of high blood pressure:
Usually, there is no single cause. A variety of factors are involved:
