Our blood moves through our arteries and veins with every pump of our heart, oxygenating our cells and maintaining life. Being forced through relatively small vessels naturally places blood under a certain amount of pressure.

We measure this pressure using two numbers, represented as one over the other and expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The upper number reflects the systolic pressure, the force of the flow. The number below represents the diastolic pressure, the extent of resistance to the flow through our blood vessels. The force of the flow (systolic) is generally higher than the resistance encountered (diastolic).

​

A healthy reading ranges from 90/60mmHg to 120/80mmHg. Consistently higher measurements, particularly those of 140/90mmHg or over, are considered too high (unless you’re over 80 years old). In this case, your doctor may diagnose hypertension, a severe and often chronic condition warranting serious attention and ongoing treatment.