If you are concerned about your heart and blood pressure then it is wise to get some measurements done.
A blood pressure check is quick and painless.We can carry one out for you, as well as your doctor.
There is NO charge for this service.

The test

The test is gentle and takes only a few minutes. Your arm is wrapped in a cuff, which is then inflated (it feels tight but doesn't hurt) and then deflated deflated.
Your blood pressure is then shown on a meter, usually with your heart rate.

NOTE: We sell blood pressure measurement monitors in our pharmacy.

The results

Blood pressure is usually given as two numbers, written as a ratio like this: 120/76. It is said as "120 over 76".
The units are, for historical reasons, pressure in mm of mercury.
Normal blood pressure is around 120/80 (said as "one-twenty over eighty") or lower.

About the numbers: Systolic and Diastolic

• The top number, the higher of the two numbers, is the Systolic, which measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (when the heart muscle contracts).
  
• The bottom number, the Diastolic, measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats (when the heart muscle is resting between beats and refilling with blood).
  

Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. Note that BP can change from minute to minute with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep.

Ideally the ratio systolic/diastolic should be no more than 120/80 for an adult aged 20 or over.
High blood pressure is when it is consistently around or above 140/90.

Recommendations for a healthy blood pressure

This chart reflects the blood pressure categories defined by the American Heart Association (AHA). It is indicative only. Factors such as body size, illness, stress, and age will affect it.

Blood Pressure Category	Systolic mm Hg (upper #)		Diastolic mm Hg (lower #)
NORMAL	less than 120	and	less than 80
Prehypertension	120 – 139	or	80 – 89
High Blood Pressure Hypertension Stage 1	140 – 159	or	90 – 99
High Blood Pressure Hypertension Stage 2	160 or higher	or	100 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis Emergency care needed	Higher than 180	or	Higher than 110

Causes of high blood pressure

Common causes of high blood pressure include:

• being overweight
  
• smoking
  
• drinking too much alcohol
  
• not exercising
  
• eating a bad diet
  
• eating too much salt
  
• diabetes
  

See your doctor if you are concerned with your blood pressure. There are medications which can control it.