OverviewThe force of blood on artery walls is called blood pressure. Normal pressure is important for the proper flow of blood from the heart to the body's organs and tissues. Each heart beat forces blood to the rest of the body. Near the heart, pressure is higher, and away from it lower. Show
Blood pressure depends on many things, including how much blood the heart is pumping and the diameter of the arteries the blood is moving through. Generally, the more blood that's pumped and the narrower the artery the higher the pressure is. Blood pressure is measured both as the heart contracts, which is called systole, and as it relaxes, which is called diastole. Systolic blood pressure is measured when the heart ventricles contract. Diastolic blood pressure is measured when the heart ventricles relax. A systolic pressure of 115 millimeters of mercury is considered normal, as is a diastolic pressure of 70. Commonly, this pressure would be stated as 115 over 70.Stressful situations can temporarily cause blood pressure to rise. If a person has a consistent blood pressure reading of 140 over 90, he would be evaluated for high blood pressure. Left untreated, high blood pressure can damage important organs, such as the brain and kidneys, as well as lead to a stroke. Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. On call Image: © DaddyBit/Getty Images Q. When I am monitoring my blood pressure, which number is most important — top, bottom, or both? A. While both numbers in a blood pressure reading are essential for diagnosing and treating high blood pressure, doctors primarily focus on the top number, also known as systolic pressure. Systolic pressure reflects the force produced by the heart when it pumps blood out to the body, while diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is the pressure in your blood vessels when the heart is at rest. Over the years, research has found that both numbers are equally important in monitoring heart health. However, most studies show a greater risk of stroke and heart disease related to higher systolic pressures compared with elevated diastolic pressures. That's especially true in people ages 50 and older, which is why doctors tend to monitor the top number more closely. The reason for the difference in risk may be related to the force put on the arteries when blood rushes out of the heart. The American Heart Association now defines high blood pressure as 130/80 mm Hg or higher. The new guidelines recommend you check your blood pressure often, ideally with a home monitor, to help your doctor determine if you need to make lifestyle changes, begin medication, or alter your current therapy. — by Howard LeWine, M.D. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Blood pressure is a measure of how hard your heart is working. Your systolic blood pressure is the first number on your reading, and your diastolic blood pressure is the second. When you visit your doctor, the first thing they often do is check your blood pressure. This is an important step because your blood pressure is a measure of how hard your heart’s working. Your heart is a muscle about the size of your fist. It’s made up of four chambers and contains four valves. The valves open and close to let blood move through the chambers and into and out of your heart. According to the American Heart Association, your heart beats 60 to 100 times per minute, or about 100,000 times per day. As it beats, blood is forced against your artery walls. Your systolic blood pressure is the top number on your reading. It measures the force of blood against your artery walls while your ventricles — the lower two chambers of your heart — squeeze, pushing blood out to the rest of your body. Your diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number on your reading. It measures the force of blood against your artery walls as your heart relaxes and the ventricles are allowed to refill with blood. Diastole — this period of time when your heart relaxes between beats — is also the time that your coronary artery is able to supply blood to your heart. Your blood pressure may be normal, high, or low. High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension. The American Heart Association describes the different blood pressure ranges for adults as:
Your doctor may diagnose high blood pressure if either your systolic or diastolic is high, or if both numbers are high. They may diagnose low blood pressure by checking systolic and diastolic numbers, along with evaluating your symptoms and age, and what medications you’re taking. Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure need to be managed. Overall, it’s much more common to have high blood pressure. According to the American College of Cardiology, almost half of the adults in the United States now fit the new definition of high blood pressure. Not surprisingly, the risk factors for these two conditions are very different. Risk factors for high blood pressureYour gender affects your risk of high blood pressure. The American Heart Association states that men are at a higher risk of high blood pressure than women are until age 64. But at 65 years and older, women are at higher risk than men. Your risk is also higher if:
Your lifestyle also affects your risk level. Your risk is higher if:
Sleep apnea is a risk factor for high blood pressure that’s often overlooked. It’s a condition that causes you to stop breathing or have ineffective breathing one or more times during sleep. When your breathing is inadequate, your oxygen levels fall and your blood vessels constrict. This increases your blood pressure. When sleep apnea is persistent, this increased blood pressure may continue during the day when breathing is normal. Properly treating sleep apnea will help lower blood pressure. Risk factors for low blood pressureIf you’re older than 65, you may be at risk of orthostatic hypotension, a condition in which your blood pressure drops when you move from sitting to standing. Endocrine problems, neurological diseases, heart problems, heart failure, and anemia may also cause the condition. You may also be at risk for low blood pressure if you become dehydrated or take certain prescription drugs such as:
Low blood pressure can also be caused by a variety of heart, hormonal, or nervous system problems. These include:
A range of treatments are available for high or low blood pressure. Treating high blood pressureLifestyle changes are recommended as the first step in treating any stage of high blood pressure. These changes may include:
In addition to these steps, consider whether you’re taking medications that could be increasing your blood pressure, such as cold medicines, diet pills, or medications for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If you are, your doctor might recommend stopping that drug, changing medications, or adjusting your dosage. However, lifestyle changes and medication adjustments may not be enough to bring your blood pressure numbers down. If that’s the case, or if you have stage 2 hypertension or have experienced hypertensive crisis, your doctor will likely prescribe one or more blood pressure medications. Commonly prescribed medications include:
This medication will be prescribed in addition to continued lifestyle changes. Treating low blood pressureTreatment for low blood pressure depends on the cause of the condition. If a medication is causing your low blood pressure, your doctor may change your dosage of that drug or stop your treatment with it. If your low blood pressure is caused by an infection, your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. Or if it’s caused by anemia, your doctor may prescribe iron or vitamin B-12 as a supplement. If a medical condition or disease is causing your low blood pressure, it’s important for your doctor to identify the specific cause. Proper management of the problem can help improve or limit episodes of low blood pressure. High blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms unless you’re in hypertensive crisis. It’s actually known as a “silent killer” because it quietly damages your blood vessels and organs, and you may not realize you have it until the damage is done. Unmanaged high blood pressure can lead to:
On the other hand, blood pressure that’s too low will cause symptoms. Symptoms or complications that may occur from low blood pressure can include:
The good news is that there are things you can do to help prevent blood pressure problems. Preventing high blood pressureYou may head off blood pressure problems before they start, or limit your risk, if you follow a healthy lifestyle. Following the steps listed above under “Treating high or low blood pressure” can help protect you from developing high blood pressure. In addition, if you suspect you have sleep apnea symptoms, such as heavy snoring, daytime sleepiness, or restless sleep, talk to your doctor about a sleep study. Sleep apnea is believed to affect at least 25 million American adults. Research has shown that using a CPAP machine while sleeping can reduce blood pressure in people with sleep apnea. Preventing low blood pressureTo help prevent low blood pressure, drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, to prevent dehydration. Stand up slowly from a sitting position to help prevent orthostatic hypotension. Also, notify your doctor right away if you feel a medication is causing your blood pressure to drop. There may be another medication option that will have less impact on your blood pressure numbers. In addition, if you’ve been diagnosed with any medical conditions known to be linked with low blood pressure, talk to your doctor. Discuss which symptoms you should look out for and how to best monitor your condition. For many people, high or low blood pressure is manageable. For high blood pressure, your outlook is best if you take lifestyle steps that support overall heart health and follow your doctor’s recommendations about medications to manage your blood pressure. For low blood pressure, it’s important to identify the cause and follow through with any recommended treatment plans. Because high blood pressure doesn’t cause symptoms, once you’ve been diagnosed with it, it’s critical to measure your blood pressure regularly. This is true even if you’re taking blood pressure medication. And whether you’ve got high or low blood pressure, tracking your systolic and diastolic numbers is a great way to gauge how well lifestyle changes or medications are working. Shop for a home blood pressure monitor. What is systolic and diastolic blood pressure mean?The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
Which BP reading is more important systolic or diastolic?In this review we compare the relative importance of various blood pressure components. Recent findings: Generally, in studies in which readings of systolic and diastolic blood pressure have been compared, systolic blood pressure has been a better predictor of risk.
What is the normal range of systolic and diastolic blood pressure?For example, if your blood pressure is "140 over 90" or 140/90mmHg, it means you have a systolic pressure of 140mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 90mmHg. As a general guide: ideal blood pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg. high blood pressure is considered to be 140/90mmHg or higher.
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What is systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure
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