Blood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other health care provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. Each time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure as the heart contracts.
Monitoring your blood pressure is important because the higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk for health problems in the future. It can cause conditions such as:
If your blood pressure falls outside of the normal range, talk to your doctor about ways to safely reduce it and manage your health risks.