Blood pressure basics

Blood pressure is the force your blood places on artery walls as your heart pumps. It’s recorded as two numbers: systolic (the peak as the heart contracts) over diastolic (the trough as it relaxes), in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). Pulse — the beats per minute — is captured alongside as a third primary signal.

One reading is a snapshot. Patterns across many readings, paired with context like sleep, activity, and medication timing, are what your doctor uses to interpret your cardiovascular health.

Sources

• American Heart Association: Understanding Blood Pressure Readings
• NHLBI (NIH): High Blood Pressure

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