What Is Blood Pressure?
Key points
- Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries.
- Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.
- Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers-the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats).
- The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom.
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries. Blood pressure is recorded as two numbers-the systolic pressure (as the heart beats) over the diastolic pressure (as the heart relaxes between beats). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is expressed verbally as "120 over 80."
Normal blood pressure is less than 120 mmHg systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Heart & Blood Vessels →
NewsMeditation alone doesn't lower blood pressure: study
Stress reduction exercises have been linked to many health benefits, but lower blood pressure may not be one of them. A new study found eight weeks of mindfulness meditation had no effect on people with slightly…
7 October 2013
NewsBlood pressure cuff may save lives in patients with acute heart attack
In patients with an acute heart attack, remote ischemic conditioning - intermittent inflation of a blood pressure cuff to cut off blood flow to the arm during transportation to hospital for acute balloon dilatation -…
21 September 2013
NewsAutomated telephone calls improve blood pressure control
Patients who received automated telephone calls inviting them to get their blood pressure checked at a walk-in clinic were more likely to have controlled hypertension than patients who did not receive calls, according…
