Blood pressure - What does it mean?

The top number (systolic) represents the pressure against the walls of your arteries when the heart beats, which is why it can change. The bottom number (diastolic) represents the pressure when the heart is in the resting phase (in between beats. This number is more important because it is the constant pressure. Your blood pressure is good. 120/80 it "textbook normal," but my family tends to have blood pressure of about 90/60-110/70 This is considered low-normal.

The top number is called systolic, the bottom diastolic. The bottom number is "more important" and more cause for concern if it's too high. The top number is the one that flucuates because of your mood. A lot of people have a high reading at the doctor's office simply because they're nervous. For a young adult the average reading is 120/80, but the top number can really go wildly high if you're nervous; if the bottom number is under 90 though it's okay. It's when that number goes well into the 90s or 100s that it's a problem. I can't explain technically what blood pressure is, somebody else probably can!

All the numbers for high blood pressure confuses me too, I have high blood pressure but i can never remember what it is supposed to be, I bought a home blood pressure monitor because my doctor was so concerned about mine and seeing as I have panic attacks i thought it would be a good idea but i can never remember the numbers...

Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by your blood to the arteries. In books, the normal is a range from 110/70-130/90. Its good to have 3 consecutive readings with 15 minute intervals to have a credible result. There are individuals with really high readings but that is still normal for them.