Blood pressure numbers can be confusing, and to complicate matters further, experts have revised guidelines for treating high blood pressure -- or hypertension. So millions of Americans who thought their blood pressure readings were within the normal range are now finding that their blood pressure numbers may be cause for concern.

How it works
A blood pressure reading is a quick and painless test that measures the force of your blood against the arterial walls. A technician wraps a rubber cuff around your arm and inflates the cuff, which compresses an artery in the arm and momentarily stops your blood flow.

The technician then deflates the cuff and uses a stethoscope to measure the pressure in the arteries. The first and higher number is the systolic pressure. This number indicates the pressure in the artery as your heart beats. The second, lower number is the diastolic pressure, which indicates the pressure in the arterial walls between beats.

Watch your numbers
In the past, a blood pressure reading lower than 140/90 was considered optimal. However, federal guidelines were recently updated and a new category called "prehypertensive" was added because experts say damage from high blood pressure begins at lower levels than previously thought.

High blood pressure is a silent -- and potentially deadly -- disease. If your blood pressure is in the prehypertensive or hypertensive range, talk with your doctor about what lifestyle changes and treatment options can help lower your blood pressure.

Here are the new blood pressure classifications:

Normal
lower than 120/80

Prehypertensive
120-139/80-89

Hypertensive
140/90 and above

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