My blood pressure is 136/50. Why is my systolic blood pressure (top bit) so high?
The systolic blood pressure (top number) is mildly elevated, but not something to be overly concerned with. Normal blood pressure is less than 120/80. Systolic (top number) blood pressures between 121-140 is considered prehypertension (pre-high blood pressure) and if it is greater than 140 on several occasions it is considered high blood pressure. Therefore your blood pressure is in the pre-high blood pressure range and should be followed in the future. No treatment is necessary, but there are things you can do to improve your blood pressure. This includes regular exercise 5 times weekly for an hour. A healthy well balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, low in salt, saturated fat and cholesterol. The DASH diet has been shown to improve the blood pressure. Avoiding caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol in excess is also helpful. The normal heart rate is 50-100, but it can be lower in well trained athletes. Keep an eye on your blood pressure and discuss it with your doctor if it remains e
