What Are Systolic And Diastolic Blood Pressure

The blood pressure reading is measured in millimeters of mercury mmhg and is written as systolic pressure the force of the blood against the artery walls as your heart beats over diastolic.

What are systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Diastolic pressure occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle. For those with heart valve regurgitation a change in its severity may be associated with a change in diastolic pressure. It is the minimum pressure in the arteries when the pumping chambers of the heart ventricles fill with blood near the end of the cardiac cycle systolic pressure or peak pressure occurs when the ventricles contract. If systolic blood pressure is elevated 140 mmhg with a normal diastolic blood pressure 90 mmhg it is called isolated systolic hypertension and may present a health concern.

But even if your diastolic number is lower than 80 you can have elevated blood pressure if the systolic reading is 120 129. If systolic hypotension is severe enough it can cause lightheadedness dizziness syncope or if it lasts long enough organ failure systolic hypotension can occur if the blood volume becomes too low as with severe dehydration or a major bleeding episode if the. As the heart beats it pumps blood through a system of blood vessels which carry blood to every part. If the systolic blood pressure is lower than normal systolic hypotension is said to be present.

In most people systolic blood pressure rises steadily with age due to the increasing stiffness of large arteries long term buildup of plaque and an increased incidence of cardiac and vascular disease. You ll generally be diagnosed with high blood pressure if your systolic blood pressure reaches between 130 and 139 mm hg or if your diastolic blood pressure reaches between 80 and 89 mm hg. 90 or more is stage 2 hypertension. In a study.