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Blood Pressure
What is it and why is it important? Each time the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest),
it pumps out blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is at its highest when the heart beats,
pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest, between beats,
your blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures.
Both are important. Usually they are written one above or before the other, such as 120/80 mmHg.
The top number is the systolic and the bottom the diastolic. When the two measurements are written down,
the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number
(for example, 120/80). If your blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is "120 over 80."
Categories for Blood Pressure Levels in Adults*
(In mmHg, millimeters of mercury)
| Category |
Systolic (top number) |
Diastolic (bottom number) |
| Normal |
Less than 120 |
Less than 80 |
| Prehypertension |
120-139 |
80-89 |
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| High Blood Pressure |
Systolic |
Diastolic |
| Stage 1 |
140-159 |
90-99 |
| Stage 2 |
160 or higher |
100 or higher |
Learn about: High Blood Pressure >>
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