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Systolic and diastolic blood pressure are two components of blood pressure measurements.
- Systolic blood pressure: This is the higher number in a blood pressure reading and represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pumps blood out during a heartbeat or contraction. It’s the maximum pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries.
- Diastolic blood pressure: This is the lower number in a blood pressure reading and represents the pressure in your arteries when your heart is at rest between beats or during relaxation. It reflects the minimum pressure in the arteries.
Blood pressure is typically expressed as systolic over diastolic, for example, 120/80 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). This reading indicates a systolic pressure of 120 mm Hg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg.
Both systolic and diastolic pressures are important for assessing cardiovascular health. Consistently high readings in either or both numbers can indicate hypertension, which can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other health problems.