I understand that a higher blood pressure (say, 135/80 and up) does more damage to blood vessels than the lower readings. My husband and I both, after sitting quietly, and taking it a few times! can get readings at home of about 120/75 or even lower. The first reading after sitting down might be 135/80. But we both are very active (both 54) and run around all day at work, and when we check it then, it can be as high as 140/85 or so, sometimes higher, sometimes lower. Does that mean all day while we area running around, and the blood pressure is higher, we are damaging blood vessels? What is the TRUE reading, the one while you are forcing it down while relaxing, or the one that we live with all day while we are so busy? Most people live running around doing things, so shouldn't that be the truer reading, over the one where people spend just a few minutes a day relaxing? I find this very confusing. Our doctor agrees, and says it is silly to take it while relaxing, because few people live their lives that way. What is the answer here?