Checking Your Blood Pressure

Checking your blood pressure is easy. At the Wal-Mart in town, you can check your blood pressure at the machine near the pharmacy. It's free and gives results in just a few minutes.
Blood pressure has three factors: Systolic pressure, Diastolic pressure and pulse.
Systolic pressure is the pressure on your blood vessels from when your heart beats to pump blood. Diastolic pressure is the pressure on your blood vessels when your heart is resting. Pulse is the number of times your heart beats a minute.
If someone says they have a blood pressure of 120 over 80, with a pulse of 72, that means they have a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80. It would be written as 120/80.
The normal healthy range for Systolic pressure is 110-140. The normal range for Diastolic pressure is 70-90. The average value is 120/80. The range for a healthy pulse of an adult at rest is 60-100. Someone who is very athletic may have a pulse lower than that at rest and still be healthy.
If your pulse or blood pressure is not in the healthy range, you should consult a doctor. Some diseases, like high blood pressure, are treatable with medication but can be dangerous if left untreated.