The pressure of blood in your arteries / blood vessels is blood pressure and is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). Your blood pressure is recorded as two figures. For example, 1450/90 mmHg. This is said as ’145 over 90’.
High blood pressure is a blood pressure that is 140/90 mmHg or above each time it is taken. That is, the blood pressure is ’sustained’ at 140/90 mmHg or above.
Blood pressure reading that is high does not mean that you have ’high blood pressure’. Your blood pressure varies throughout the day. It may be high for a short time if you are anxious, stressed, or have just been exercising.
You are said to have ’high blood pressure’ (hypertension) if you have several blood pressure readings that are high, and which are taken on different occasions, and when you are relaxed.
High blood pressure is a ’risk factor’ for developing a cardiovascular disease (such as a heart attack or stroke), and kidney damage, sometime in the future. If you have high blood pressure, over the years it may have a damaging effect to arteries and put a strain on your heart. In general, the higher your blood pressure, the greater the health risk. But, high blood pressure is just one of several possible risk factors for developing a cardiovascular disease.