A blood pressure (BP) test examines how much pressure is required to pump blood through the arteries as well as assessing the size and flexibility of the arteries. Although your doctor or nurse can read and interpret your test results, it may be unfamiliar to you. By learning how blood pressure is measured and assessed, you can read and understand your blood pressure test results.
Step 1
Learn what a blood pressure measurement actually is. Blood pressure is measured in milliliters of mercury, shown as mmHg, and is given in two numbers (i.e. 120/80). These numbers represent systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. Systolic blood pressure is the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. Diastolic blood pressure is a measure of the minimum pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.
Step 2
Know the varying levels of results. Blood pressure is typically assessed in three levels: normal, low and high.
Step 3
Check your results for normalcy. If your systolic BP is <120 mmHg and your diastolic BP is <80 mmHg, your blood pressure is considered normal.
Step 4
Check your results for indications of high blood pressure, known as hypertension. If your systolic BP is 140-159 mmHg and your diastolic BP is 90-99 mmHg, your blood pressure is considered to have characteristics of mild hypertension. Your doctor should discuss lifestyle changes that you can make to lower your blood pressure.
Step 5
Check your results for indications of more severe hypertension. If your systolic BP is more than 160 mmHg and your diastolic BP is more than 100 mmHg, your blood pressure is characteristic of a more severe form of hypertension. Your doctor should discuss lifestyle changes and potential medications that you can take to lower your blood pressure.
Step 6
Check your results for indications of low blood pressure, known as hypotension. If your systolic BP is less than 90 mmHg or more than 25 mmHg lower than normal, your blood pressure is considered to be low. Your doctor should discuss steps you can take to increase your metabolism, which ultimately affects your blood flow.
Tips and Warnings
- Because various factors can affect readings, it is important that your doctor or nurse take multiple readings to get the most accurate assessment. Walking from the waiting room to the examination room or even anxiety can cause your blood pressure to increase abnormally.
