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 answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. Michael Zevitzanswered
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.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Similar questions
A 38-year-old member asked:
What do the top and bottom number mean on a blood pressure test?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Payam Mehranpouranswered
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.
4.6k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
On a blood pressure test, what does the top number mean? And the bottom number?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
Dr. Bennett Werneranswered
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.
3.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
What exactly does it mean to have high blood pressure?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Dan Fisheranswered
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.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Canal Winchester, OH
A 28-year-old female asked:
What does uncontrolled high blood pressure mean?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Dr. Clarence Grimanswered
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.
594 viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Last updated Feb 19, 2013
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