What Does The Blood Pressure Numbers Mean

The diastolic reading or the bottom number is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

What does the blood pressure numbers mean. Blood pressure usually ranges between 90 to 250 for the top or maximum number systolic and 60 to 140 for the bottom or minimum number diastolic. Blood pressure is the force of blood through your blood vessels. What does the diastolic blood pressure number mean. The diastolic reading or the bottom number is the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats.

The second is the diastolic pressure when your heart relaxes. When your systolic pressure is between 120 and 129 mm hg and your diastolic pressure is less than 80. A healthy blood pressure is 120 80 or less but the lower you can get it the better. Having a raised systolic blood pressure but normal or low diastolic blood pressure is called isolated systolic hypertension ish and carries an increased risk of developing heart attacks or strokes and should be treated.

Blood pressure measurements are given as a top and bottom number. The higher number that comes first is called systolic pressure. We know for example that having a blood pressure of 160 80mmhg is more risky than having a blood pressure of 150 90mmhg. This is the time when the heart.

You get two numbers one written on top of the other. The first reflects systolic blood pressure the amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts. Numbers higher than 120 80 mm hg are a red flag that you need to take on heart healthy habits. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen.

Here s a look at the four blood pressure categories and what they mean for you. If your systolic and diastolic readings fall into two different categories your correct blood pressure category is the higher category. Blood pressure is reported using two numbers and many people don t completely understand what these numbers mean.