blood pressure?

[torcot]

hello, I think this is in the right area.  I am a 20 year old male slightly overweight who excersises about once a week.  I don't get the right amount of sleep I should get (around 4 hours a night mostly).  Today I went to wal mart and decided to sit down in the blood pressure gauge thing just to see what it said.  the Numbers were 128 over 112.  Is this good or bad?  I don't really understand the difference.  I have just started taking an anti biotic for a sinus infection it is amoxicillin clavulanate.  My family does have a history of heart attacks.  

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the stupid question.  

[torcot]

thanks, I give blood a lot and they check it and always say I am very healthy I just didn't understand how the numbers worked.  All I could get on the internet was "120 over 80 is good"  Doesn't really explain why it is good.

[erijon]

A few thoughts, first off, the blood pressure units at most drug/grocery stores are very inaccurate. They simply are not reliable as they have been used and abused. High blood pressure is diagnosed after three consecutive readings (not in the same day) over 140/90. Prehypertension is anything over 120/80 and under 140/90 which is considered high blood pressure. Normal is under 120/80. In your case the diastolic number, which is the second number and represents your blood pressure when the heart is refilling, is too high as it should be under 80.

If you are concerned you should get a check up and have your blood pressure checked properly by your doctor, especially with a family history. I am not aware of an antibiotic causing an increase in one's blood pressure.

Hope this helps,

Jon