Blood pressure is a measure of the pressure or force of blood against the walls of your blood vessels (known as arteries). Your blood pressure reading is based on two measures called systolic and diastolic. The systolic (top) number is the measure of the pressure force when your heart contracts and pushes out the blood. The diastolic (bottom) number is the measure of when your heart relaxes between beats.
The table below defines varying blood pressure categories: low risk, medium risk, high risk. See your doctor or healthcare provider to get a proper blood pressure measurement.
Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart’s pumping power is weaker than normal or the heart has become less elastic. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart’s pumping chambers less effectively, and pressure in the heart increases, making it harder for your heart to deliver oxygen andnutrients to your body.