Blood pressure is a measure of how hard the blood pushes against the walls of your arteries as it moves through your body. It’s normal for blood pressure to go up and down throughout the day, but if it stays up, you have high blood pressure. Another name for high blood pressure is hypertension. When blood pressure is high, it starts to damage the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. This can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other problems. High blood pressure is called a “silent killer,” because it doesn’t usually cause symptoms while it is causing this damage.

Your blood pressure consists of two numbers: systolic and diastolic. Someone with a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80 has a blood pressure of 120/80, or “120 over 80.” Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg). The systolic number shows how hard the blood pushes when the heart is pumping. The diastolic number shows how hard the blood pushes between heartbeats, when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. You have high blood pressure if your top number is 140 or higher or your bottom number is 90 or higher, or both.  People with diabetes should have a blood pressure of less than 130/80. [HealthLinkBC]

So how do we avoid having high blood pressure? Try to live healthy and stress-free. Eat well, stay at a healthy weight, exercise, don’t smoke, be social, avoid excessive drinking and get on a regular massage schedule. Massage is a natural choice for the treatment and prevention of a wide range of health conditions, including managing blood pressure. Relaxing music and aromatherapy will also greatly enhance the benefits of massage.