High blood pressure is sometimes called "the silent killer." It causes serious health problems even though you may never feel sick. One secret to staying healthy is understanding blood pressure and keeping it at the right level.

What is High Blood Pressure?

Most people have had their blood pressure checked at the healthcare provider's office. The nurse puts a cuff around your arm, pumps it up, and then lets the air out of the cuff. We've all seen it done, but what is the nurse measuring?

Blood pressure measures how hard your blood is pressing against the blood vessel walls. It is shown as two numbers, such as 120/80.

Two Numbers: Squeeze & Rest

As you probably know, your heart squeezes and rests for each heartbeat. It is also called contracting and relaxing. The top number measures how hard your blood is pressing against your artery wall when your heart is squeezing, or contracting. Normally, this number should be less than 120, but your provider may change your beginning goal to 130 or less if your blood pressure is already high.

The bottom number tells how hard the blood is pressing against the artery wall when your heart is resting between beats. The goal for this number is less than 80 or lower.

Our arteries and veins are normally flexible like a rubber hose so blood can flow easily. But if the force of our blood flow is too high, our blood vessels can stretch too far and get damaged. Over time, the damage can weaken the blood vessels so they get clogged or burst more easily. When this happens, it causes strokes and heart attacks.

What Can You Do?

Great news! If you have high blood pressure, it doesn't have to stay that way. You can check it, and you can change it.

Your healthcare provider can help you develop a game plan for lowering your blood pressure. Your healthcare provider can:

• Help you monitor your progress with Heart 360, an easy online tool to help you monitor your heart health.
• Help you discover your best action plan.
• Prescribe medications, if you need them.
• Solve problems as they arise.

But no matter how much guidance your healthcare provider provides, nothing will change without you. What can you do?

• Regularly measure your blood pressure and track your progress on Heart 360.
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• Exercise every day. Taking a stroll or a bike ride for just 30 minutes a day can dramatically improve your heart health and lower your blood pressure.
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• Reduce the amount of salt you eat. It is surprising, but most of the salt you eat does not come from the salt shaker. Most of it comes from fast food and pre-packaged "convenience" foods, like lunch meats, frozen dinners, and canned foods. Changing the way you shop and eat can help you cut your salt intake.
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• Take your medicine. Follow your healthcare provider's orders for medicine very closely. It is the best way to reach your goals and enjoy better health.
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Together, you and your healthcare provider can make a plan, lower your blood pressure and help you live longer and healthier.