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Frequently Asked Questions
What is normal blood pressure?
A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is considered normal. In general, lower is better.
If my blood pressure is in the "prehypertension" category, what should I do?
You should talk to your doctor or other health care provider about your blood pressure and what you can do to lower it. You may be able to lower your blood pressure by making changes in your diet, losing weight, exercising more often, or drinking less alcohol. You have "prehypertension" blood pressure when your systolic pressure is usually 120 to 139, or your diastolic pressure is usually 80 to 89.
Can drinking alcohol raise blood pressure?
Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure. If you drink alcohol, limit your drinks to just two a day for men and one a day for women. One drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of 80-proof whiskey.
Do children ever get high blood pressure?
Yes. However, high blood pressure is not as common in children as it is in adults. High blood pressure in younger children is often related to another health problem. Children with a family history of high blood pressure or who are overweight are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
Is salt and sodium the same thing?
The chemical name for salt is sodium chloride, so salt is partly sodium. Salt and other forms of sodium are found in many foods. Most Americans eat too much salt and sodium, and for many, that means higher blood pressure. Eating less salt and sodium in your diet can help lower your high blood pressure. Many snack foods, soups, lunchmeats, and other foods have a lot of sodium in them. Look at food labels to find products that are lower in sodium. The NHLBI Web site, Your Guide to Lowering High Blood Pressure, has tips on how to cut down the salt and sodium in your diet.
How do I know if I'm overweight?
Body mass index (BMI) is an easy way to find out if you are overweight or obese. BMI is calculated by relating how much you weigh to how tall you are. It gives an approximation of total body fat. As BMI goes up, so does your chance of getting high blood pressure, heart disease, and other diseases related to being overweight. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 to 29.9; obesity is defined as a BMI equal to or more than 30. Use the NHLBI online BMI Calculator to find out if you are overweight
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Older Adults  Summary
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