Blood Pressure Overview and Key Terminology

Blood Pressure

What is Blood Pressure?

• Definition: Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against the walls of the arteries during the heart's pumping cycle.

Components of Blood Pressure

• Systolic Pressure:

  • Indicates the pressure in the arteries when the left ventricle of the heart contracts to pump blood into the arteries.

  • This is the top number in a blood pressure reading.

  • Generally higher than the diastolic pressure.

• Diastolic Pressure:

  • Indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle is resting between beats and is filled with blood.

  • This is the bottom number in a blood pressure reading.

  • Generally lower than the systolic pressure.

Medical Terminology Related to Blood Pressure

• Hypo: Low pressure

• Hyper: High pressure

• Tension: Pressure

• Hypertension: High blood pressure condition

• Hypotension: Low blood pressure condition