Distolic Blood Pressure

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Diastolic Blood Pressure? Distolic blood pressure is a common misspelling of diastolic blood pressure.

A blood pressure reading consists of two numbers that are written in the form of a fraction. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure, which is the pressure in the blood vessels when your heart is resting (in between heartbeats). While many people consider a normal blood pressure reading to be 120/80, your blood pressure fluctuates throughout the day. However, if your blood pressure average is above or below normal levels for a long time, it can cause problems.

(Click Diastolic Blood Pressure for more information on how you can measure your diastolic blood pressure and potential problems that can occur if your blood pressure is too high or too low. You can also click any of the links in the box to the right for specific information.)