Blood

Blood Pressure Ranges

A liquid called plasma makes up about half of the content of blood. Plasma contains proteins that help blood to clot, transport substances through the blood, and perform other functions. Blood plasma also contains glucose and other dissolved nutrients.

About half of blood volume is composed of blood cells:

What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?

The diastolic reading, or the bottom number, is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen.

This is what your diastolic blood pressure number means:

1. Normal: Lower than 80
2. Stage 1 hypertension: 80-89
3. Stage 2 hypertension: 90 or more
4. Hypertensive crisis: 120 or more.

Our chart below has more details.

Even if your diastolic number is normal (lower than 80), you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120-129.

Blood Pressure Ranges

If you have normal blood pressure, your blood pressure is less than 120/80. Stick with an active lifestyle and healthy diet to keep that going.

Is your blood pressure above the normal range, in either or both systolic and diastolic levels? Your doctor will want to have more than one blood pressure reading before diagnosing hypertension.

Treatments include lifestyle changes, and if that’s not enough, may also include medications.

Lifestyle changes include:

• Cutting back on sodium. Ask your doctor what your daily sodium limit should be. Read the Nutrition Facts label on food products.
• Getting more exercise. Studies show benefits with 3-4 sessions per week, each lasting 40 minutes, of aerobic exercise (the kind that makes your heart beat faster).
• Losing weight, if you’re overweight. You can expect to shave about 1 point off your blood pressure numbers for each pound lost.
• Eating a healthy diet. The DASH diet is designed to improve blood pressure. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. It favors vegetables, fruits, whole grains, low-fat dairy, poultry, fish, and chicken.
• Limiting alcohol to no more than one drink a day for women or two for men.

Blood is a constantly circulating fluid providing the body with nutrition, oxygen, and waste removal. Blood is mostly liquid, with numerous cells and proteins suspended in it, making blood "thicker" than pure water. The average person has about 5 liters (more than a gallon) of blood.

A liquid called plasma makes up about half of the content of blood. Plasma contains proteins that help blood to clot, transport substances through the blood, and perform other functions. Blood plasma also contains glucose and other dissolved nutrients.

About half of blood volume is composed of blood cells:

• Red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the tissues

• White blood cells, which fight infections

• Platelets, smaller cells that help blood to clot

Blood is conducted through blood vessels (arteries and veins). Blood is prevented from clotting in the blood vessels by their smoothness, and the finely tuned balance of clotting factors.