Keeping your blood pressure at a healthy level is important to help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other heart problems. Guidelines just released by a group of health experts present new ways for patients to manage high blood pressure, as well as ways for healthcare providers to treat people with high blood pressure. Blood pressure basics Blood pressure is a relationship between two numbers: systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic pressure is the top number, and it measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats. Diastolic pressure is the bottom number, and it measures the pressure in the arteries in between heartbeats. Up until now, the guidelines for normal blood pressure have been 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury). New blood pressure guidelines The new guidelines for blood pressure address: What blood pressure goal is healthy for me? When do I need to take medicine or change my habits for high blood pressure? What medicine or changes are best if I have high blood pressure? In addition, they note the following goals: People aged 60 or older with high blood pressure should aim for a blood pressure level of less than 150/90. People aged 30 to 59 should aim for [...]