Blood pressure is the measure of the force with which blood presses against the walls of blood vessels. The heart pumps blood through blood vessels, which carry blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or to atherosclerosis, strokes, kidney disease and to heart failure.
Two numbers make up your blood pressure reading: systolic blood pressure (top number) and diastolic blood pressure (bottom number). Systolic blood pressure indicates the pressure exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries during the heartbeat. The diastolic reading shows the pressure exerted by your blood against the walls of your arteries as the heart rests between beats.
Blood pressure is the force of blood pressing on the walls of the arteries as it is pumped out of the heart. Blood pressure is measured in two types of pressures. Systolic pressure is when the heart beats as it pumps blood. Diastolic pressure is when the heart is at rest between beats.
Blood pressure is the measure of the force with which blood presses against the walls of blood vessels. The heart pumps blood through blood vessels, which carry blood throughout the body. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder to pump blood throughout the body and contributes to hardening of the arteries, or to atherosclerosis, strokes, kidney disease and to heart failure.
