blood pressure

I have always had good blood pressure..when I would go to the doc for something they would ask if I work out etc....  Past year or so...It is 140/90 at the docs...I get questions like why is your bp up?  How would I  know?  So...now I check it at home...today I took it three times so I could average it and maybe get a better reading...the average was 136/86....very rarely it is 115/75 when I check it...it seems even if the bottom number is under 80 the top is high 120s to even 150....and usually the bottom number is 80-90ish.... I have been walking on my treadmill to treat it but I am confused as to why it is all of a sudden up instead of great!!  I have suffered with health problems during this time so I have been in daily pain...does pain cause your bp to be high? 

But are the numbers I have mentioned high enough to worry about....my doc says to exercise and that will bring the numbers down but how long will that take? Should I be worried?

Hi Hearty.
From what I understand, 120/80 is considered 'normal'. Lower is better if it doesn't cause problems. Mine can run ridiculously low, like 83/53. Prehypertension is where your top number is betweeen 129-139 or your bottom number is 80-90. Doctors usually tell you to watch it and try to control it with exercise and diet.

Stage 1 hypertension is where your top number is 140-159 or your bottom number is 90-99.
Stage 2 hypertension is where your top number is 160 or higher or your bottom number is 100 or higher.

My mom has been 'watching it' for years now. Her top number is consistently running in the 140s to 165ish. Her doctor just put her on a diurectic (spelling ??). It has only been a few days but her blood pressure has dropped down to around 125/60ish. I don't know if that will change as her body adjusts to the meds but it seems good right now-except she is fatigued in the afternoon. (Hey better than heart damage from too high a blood pressure)