What Does the Systolic Blood Pressure Number Mean?

When your heart beats, it contracts and pushes blood through the arteries to the rest of your body. This force creates pressure on the arteries. This is called systolic blood pressure. A normal systolic blood pressure is below 120. A systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 means you have prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. Even people with prehypertension are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure. What Does the Diastolic Blood Pressure Number Mean? The diastolic blood pressure number or the bottom number indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between beats. A normal diastolic blood pressure number is less than 80. A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 indicates prehypertension. A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure. How Is Blood Pressure Measured? Blood pressure is measured with a simple, painless test using a blood pressure cuff -- doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a cuff. The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the forearm or wrist. When taking your blood pressure, your doctor will use a stethoscope to listen to the blood moving through an artery. The cuff is inflated to a pressure thats known to be higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff deflates, the first sound heard through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away, that indicates the diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure number is always said first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is given. For example, your blood pressure may be read as "120 over 80" or written 120/80. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). How Often Should I Get My Blood Pressure Checked? If your blood pressure is normal (less than 120/80), get it checked at least every 2 years or more frequently as your doctor suggests. If your blood pressure is borderline high -- systolic blood pressure between 120 and 139 or diastolic blood pressure of 80 to 89 -- check it at least every year or more often as your doctor suggests. If your blood pressure is 140/90 or higher, talk with your doctor as this is high blood pressure and requires a doctors attention.