High blood pressure is a serious condition that affects people of all ages. Because of this, doctors usually check your blood pressure first every time you visit them. There's a good chance that at some point in your life, your doctor would report that you have high blood pressure; but as long as you have a good understanding about how to read blood pressure levels, how to keep high levels low and how to avoid experiencing it again, you can save yourself from the pain and even lead to a healthier life.

Each person has numerous vessels and arteries that carry blood from the heart to other parts of your body. When a doctor takes your blood pressure, he is getting the amount of blood force that pushes against the walls of your arteries. A healthy heart beats around 60 to 70 times each minute and every time it beats, it pushes blood from your heart into the arteries.

When your heart beats, your blood pressure is at its highest, which is known as the systolic pressure. However, your blood pressure is at its lowest in between heartbeats, which is known as the diastolic pressure. When a doctor takes your blood pressure, he is going to report two equally important numbers, one for the systolic (top number) and another for the diastolic pressure (bottom number). As such, your doctor would simply say you have a blood pressure of 120 over 80 or written as 120/80, but these values may vary from one person to the next.

Be aware that a person's blood pressure changes based on the type of activity being performed, so your blood pressure when sleeping is usually much lower compared to your blood pressure when you are exercising, active, excited or nervous.  Any blood pressure readings at 140/90 or higher means that you are experiencing high blood pressure or hypertension. Although many people disregard their blood pressure, it is important for men and women of all ages, even those without health problems. This is because high blood pressure increases your risk of having kidney problems, heart attacks and strokes.

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