Health and Wellness

High Blood Pressure

What Is High Blood Pressure?


High Blood Pressure

What is blood pressure?

  • Blood is carried from your heart to all parts of your body in tubes called arteries.

  • Blood pressure is how hard your blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body.

What is high blood pressure?

  • High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is when your blood moves through your arteries with too much force.

  • This makes your heart work harder and increases your risk of having problems like a heart attack or stroke.

What do your blood pressure numbers mean?

  • Blood pressure is always written as two numbers. If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is “120 over 80.”

  • The top number is when your heart beats, pumping the blood, and pressure is the highest.

  • The bottom number is when your heart rests, between beats, and pressure drops.

You want your blood pressure to be less than 120/80

If you are a CalOptima Health member and have high blood pressure call 1-888-587-8088 to ask to speak to a staff member about helpful changes to your diet, taking medicines, checking your blood pressure and exercise that can help bring your blood pressure under control.

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