What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure measures the force of blood pushing against artery walls as the heart pumps. It is recorded as two numbers: systolic pressure (the higher number) measures pressure when the heart beats; diastolic pressure (the lower number) measures pressure between beats. It is expressed in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).
Why Blood Pressure Matters
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading risk factor for heart attack, stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure worldwide. It is often called the “silent killer” because it typically causes no symptoms until serious damage has occurred. Approximately 1.28 billion adults worldwide have hypertension, and nearly half are unaware of it.
Lifestyle Changes That Lower Blood Pressure
Evidence-based strategies include: the DASH diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy); reducing sodium intake to under 2,300mg/day; regular aerobic exercise (30 minutes most days); limiting alcohol; quitting smoking; achieving a healthy weight; and managing stress. These changes can reduce systolic blood pressure by 5–20 mmHg each, making a combined lifestyle approach highly effective.