Blood pressure indicates pressure inside your vessels while the heart pumps blood and while it rests. This eMedTV article covers key aspects of blood pressure, like how it is measured, what is considered normal, and what can affect it.
As this eMedTV article explains, systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading. It represents the amount of pressure blood puts on vessels when the heart is beating. This page takes a look at this number and how it is measured.
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 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.
This eMedTV Web page defines "average blood pressure" and provides other blood pressure information. For example, it's important to take multiple blood pressure readings from different days to determine your average.
The two parts of a blood pressure reading are the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure. This page of the eMedTV library explains how this reading measures blood pressure within the blood vessels while the heart beats and also at rest.
As this eMedTV page explains, to test blood pressure, you measure the pressure inside your blood vessels as the heart beats and relaxes. This article explains how blood pressure is recorded as two numbers -- the systolic pressure "over" the diastolic.
There are two types of sphygmomanometers (devices used to measure blood pressure). This portion of the eMedTV archives takes a closer look at how blood pressure is measured, and also explains how these devices work.
