Originally Posted by
Terex
"My BP has hovered around 140/60 for the last 6 months or a year, but used to be closer to 115/60 when I did more weight lifting routines."
As noted, contact your physician re recent issues, but at age 26 especially, with systolic of 140, you have high blood pressure. You should probably be on medication and taking significant steps to modify your diet. Again, see your doc.
And, 140 over 60 is very bothersome. That's a pulse pressure (systolic - diastolic) of 80 -- which is extremely high. On the other hand, from what you have posted, I don't think you know how to take your blood pressure properly. The first thing you should do is buy a good blood pressure monitor. The automatic ones are easier to use and just as accurate. Then learn how to take your blood pressure. You are interested in resting blood pressure. Basically, you need to sit motionless for at least five minutes before taking your pressure. Wait two or three minutes and take it again. Repeat a third time then average the three readings. An optimal pressure is anything less than 120/80. Finally, there are numerous blood pressure articles on the web. I'd start with the American Heart Association web site.