Blood Pressure

Systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure your blood exerts against your artery walls when your heart beats. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (eg 120/80 mmHg)

It directly reflects the force of your blood flow and the stiffness of your arteries. If your systolic number is high, it means your heart and blood vessels are working under extra stress

• Systolic (Top Number, e.g., 120): The peak pressure when the heart contracts and pushes blood out into the body.

• Diastolic (Bottom Number, e.g., 80): The resting pressure inside the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats

NORMAL BLOOD PRESSURE

90 + (2 x age) = normal systolic pressure

HYPOTENSIVE BLOOD PRESSURE

70 + (2 x age) = anything below this number is low systolic pressure