About Blood Pressure

Browse eMedTV's wide range of articles related to about blood pressure including topics such as how to take blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Use the search box at the top-right corner of the page to find information about other health topics.

Description of Articles in About Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is the pressure inside your blood vessels, both while the heart pumps blood and while it rests. This eMedTV article covers key aspects of blood pressure, like how blood pressure is measured and what's considered normal blood pressure.

Systolic and diastolic blood pressures are, respectively, the top and bottom numbers of a blood pressure reading. This portion of the eMedTV archives explains why systolic and diastolic blood pressures are important for your health.

Diastolic blood pressure, represented by the bottom number in a blood pressure reading, is when your heart is resting. This page of the eMedTV library explains diastolic blood pressure and offers tips for keeping it low.

Blood pressure readings consist of two blood pressure numbers written like a fraction. This page of the eMedTV archives explains what each of these blood pressure numbers mean and what is considered normal.

What is a good blood pressure? The information on this eMedTV Web page explains the factors that affect a good blood pressure reading, including lifestyle and family history. For the majority of people, a good blood pressure is anything under 120/80.

The two parts of a blood pressure reading are the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. This page of the eMedTV library explains how a blood pressure reading measures pressure within the blood vessels while the heart beats and also at rest.

This eMedTV article explains how to take blood pressure and offers tips to help ensure you get the most accurate reading possible. Your healthcare provider will probably use a device called a sphygmomanometer to take blood pressure readings.

There are two types of sphygmomanometers used to measure blood pressure: manometric and digital. This portion of the eMedTV archives describes each sphygmomanometer type in detail and explains how a sphygmomanometer works.