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A member asked:

What are systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure?

6 doctors weighed in across 2 answers
Dr. Louis Grenzer answered

Specializes in Cardiology

See below: Systolic is the pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. Diastolic is the pressure when the heart relaxes.

Dr Levey and 3 doctors agreed

Answered 11/18/2019

6.2k views

Thank

120/80: The upper number is the systolic and is the pressure generated when the heart contracts. The lower number (it's not a fraction, just expressed with a diagonal line between them) is the diastolic and represents residual pressure in the arterial tree when the heart is resting/filling. Both are important for health. Normal is <135/<85.

Answered 2/19/2020

5k views

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