What's the link between blood pressure and heart health?

If you’ve ever talked to your doctor about cardiovascular health, you already know that maintaining healthy blood pressure is an important part of looking after your heart. In fact, blood pressure levels are one of the most common and easy-to-check markers of a healthy heart.

What does your heart do?

Your heart is an amazing machine. The average adult heart pumps around 7,500 litres of blood in a single day. It pumps that blood around the body in a single day.

What does 'blood pressure' mean?

The term “blood pressure” refers to the force that the blood being pumped exerts against the walls of your arteries it flows through. The higher your blood pressure, the more your heart is “pushing” your blood against your artery walls. Think of your blood pressure level as measuring how hard your heart muscle must work. And to help keep your heart healthy and happy, you need to avoid overworking it.

What is a healthy blood pressure level?

Your blood pressure is measured with two figures. The higher one (your systolic) is the pressure on your artery wall while your heart contracts in a beat. The lower one (your diastolic) is the pressure between beats when your heart is relaxed.

According to the New Zealand Heart Foundation, the exact figures for healthy blood pressure can vary from person to person. As a general rule, however, the lower the better, but ideally you want to be below 130/80.

What can you do to support a healthy blood pressure level?

It’s important to get your blood pressure checked regularly and talk to your health professional if you have any concerns. Other things you can do to support healthy blood pressure include:

If you smoke, quit

Get active more often

Manage your stress well.