A hectic lifestyle has left people vulnerable to life-threatening conditions, like high blood pressure, which could be avoided by following a healthy life. Health awareness has become more essential than before, as we are becoming more prone to health hazards. A blood pressure level that complicates a normal lifestyle, and intervenes in the day-to-day activities is considered hypertension. The Definition The human body system runs on blood, and so it is often called the fuel for a living body. The pressure of blood against the walls of the arteries that rise and fall with the heartbeat, is regarded as blood pressure. It should be maintained, as it is important for functions related to the heart. Blood pressure enables a regular supply of oxygen to the heart, and it is done by applying pressure to the blood vessels. Normal blood pressure is a sign of a good health. The blood pressure rises, when the heart beats and pumps the blood into the arteries, and falls, as the heart relaxes between the beats. There is always a certain amount of pressure on the arteries even when the heart relaxes. A blood pressure check-up is all about checking whether the pressure on the blood flow is high or low. A reading of 120/80 mm Hg is considered as normal, and a reading higher than that is considered as high blood pressure. On the other hand, reading lower than the aforementioned normal level is considered as low blood pressure level. Blood Pressure Levels Explained The level of blood pressure is considered higher with a reading of 140/90 mm Hg or higher than that. There are two types of pressure, which are considered while measuring the levels. They are called the systolic blood pressure and the diastolic blood pressure. Hypertension is commonly prevalent in two-thirds of all the people over the age of 65. People are considered to be suffering from early stage of high blood pressure or pre-hypertension, if the pressure remains between 120/80 mm Hg and 139/89 mm Hg. Those who are in this condition have a very high chance of developing hypertension in the near future. Systolic Blood Pressure It is the pressure exerted by blood on the arteries as the heart beats. It appears at the top in the reading. A systolic pressure is considered high, if it is at 140 mm Hg and higher. A systolic pressure is the most common form of hypertension, and increases with age, while a diastolic blood pressure increases till the age of 55 and declines after that. A blood pressure reading for middle aged and older people is diagnosed better with a systolic pressure. A rise in systolic blood pressure is a sign of an increased probability of getting heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure. Diastolic Blood Pressure It is the pressure of blood on the arteries as the heart relaxes between the beats. It is the number at the bottom of a blood pressure reading. It is a condition that mostly affects people at young age. High diastolic pressure creates a greater risk of heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure in young people. The diastolic pressure decreases as a person becomes older, and a systolic blood pressure begins to rise, which makes it more important as people come of age. High blood pressure is therefore, the result of an unbalanced lifestyle and faulty eating habits. One must take utmost care to stay away from increasing blood pressure levels, as it is the starting point of many health issues.