Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of your arteries as the heart pumps blood around your body. Blood pressure readings can give an indication of how hard your heart is working and are an important part of a general health assessment.

Your blood pressure changes and fluctuates throughout the day depending on many factors, such as activity level, emotional state and sleep.

High blood pressure can be silent, so it’s important to get regular blood pressure checks.

The most common way to measure blood pressure is via an inflatable cuff that wraps around the upper arm and is connected to a pressure-measuring gauge. You may have your blood pressure checked by a doctor or nurse, and home blood pressure monitors are also available.

If your blood pressure remains high over a long period of time, it can lead to heart conditions and cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack, stroke, heart failure, or kidney disease.

Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers, one over the other, such as 120/80. Both are measured in units called millimetres of mercury (or mm Hg). Systolic pressure: The top number, called the systolic pressure, is the pressure each time your heart contracts (or squeezes). Diastolic pressure: The bottom number, or diastolic pressure, is the pressure in the artery as the heart relaxes before the next beat.