U.S. doctors online nowAsk doctors free
A 30-year-old member asked:

What does it mean if the top numbe is high on a blood pressure test but not the other?

1 doctor answer3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michael Zevitz
Cardiology 39 years experience
Hypertension: It means that you have systolic hypertension, the most common scenario in hypertension. Either number being elevated is abnormally high blood pressure.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.

Similar questions

A 38-year-old member asked:

What do the top and bottom number mean on a blood pressure test?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Payam Mehranpour
Internal Medicine - Cardiology 25 years experience
Systolic ; diastolic: The top number (systolic) is the pressure reading when the heart pumps and pushed blood through the arteries. The bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure when the heart rests between beats.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 35-year-old member asked:

On a blood pressure test, what does the top number mean? And the bottom number?

1 doctor answer2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Werner
Cardiology 46 years experience
BP: The systolic (top) number is the pressure generated by the force of your left ventricle during contraction (systole). The diastolic (bottom) number is the residual pressure in the aorta during the resting phase (diastole) & reflects the elastic properties of the arterial system. If either is abnormally elevated for a long time, your risk of stroke, heart failure, attack, and kidney failure rise
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
A 38-year-old member asked:

What exactly does it mean to have high blood pressure?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Dan Fisher
Internal Medicine 29 years experience
Raises Risk: Htn is a silent killer which raises your risk of heart, brain and kidney disease especially when combined with smoking, diabetes and high ldl. Htn is defined as an average BP > 140/90 as measure in the office. Goals of treatment depend on your other issues but 130/80 is a good number.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Canal Winchester, OH
A 28-year-old female asked:

What does uncontrolled high blood pressure mean?

1 doctor answer1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Clarence Grim
Endocrinology 59 years experience
Uncontrolled HBP: It means you are not on the right meds or you are eating too much salt so they do not work.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
Last updated Feb 19, 2013

Disclaimer:

Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.