Get Virtual Care
Systolic pressure
The systolic blood pressure (the larger or "top" number of a reading) measures the pressure of the blood coursing through a vessel at its peak. It is a function of both how dilated the blood vessels are overall, the amount of blood in those vessels, and the force of squeeze generated by the heart. This number is the primary target of blood pressure treatment.
Dr. John Garner reviewed this
18 year experience in Cardiology
How long it usually lasts:
Related questions
A 46-year old asked:
How is systolic pressure measured?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A member asked:
High disystolic pressure than systolic pressure how n why?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 28-year old male asked:
What is the definition or description of: systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
Does a persons systolic pressure depend on what position they are sitting in?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
Why is systolic pressure higher than diastolic?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 53-year old asked:
Which is higher: diastolic or systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
What's more important diastolic or systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 5 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Why does systolic pressure decrease during inspiration?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 46-year old asked:
Is it normal if your systolic pressure is only 10 points higher than diastolic?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 21-year old female asked:
What does it mean if a systolic pressure is normal and the diastolic is low? 126/60
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 34-year old asked:
Why might it be that my systolic pressure always higher than normal but diastolic always normal?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Can taking atenolol cause the systolic pressure to be higher?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 33-year old asked:
Is there an equation connecting systolic pressure to pulse rate?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 25-year old asked:
Why could my systolic pressure change, but not my diastolic pressure?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 30-year old male asked:
How come my diastolic pressure doesn't go down but my systolic pressure does?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
What does it mean if a diastolic pressure is higher than the systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
If a diastolic pressure rises a lot more than the systolic pressure, what does it mean?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Systolic pressure 190. Any circumstances under which emergency room would send patient home?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
How come my diastolic pressure is usually above 80 and appears less stable than my systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 59-year old male asked:
Hi doctors,why would my systolic pressure 110 and diastolic 80 ,for the past 2 weeks,is this normal for a 60 year old male. Thankyou?
1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in
A 43-year old asked:
What to do if a person has a left ventricular systolic pressure of 180 mmhg and an aoritic systolic pressure of 100 mmhg. What is the explanation?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 64-year old male asked:
Some people are extremely afraid for some reason in having their blood pressure taken by clinicians. How high can systolic pressure go to?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 26-year old female asked:
I had an echo and it showed right ventricular systolic pressure elevated 30-40mmHg. And mild to moderate triscupid regurgitation. Is this normal?
2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in
A 24-year old asked:
Which systolic pressure should be used for the management of an aortic aneurysm?
4 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in
A 25-year old male asked:
Is having a consistently lower than normal diastolic blood pressure a good or bad thing (i.e between 40-50 mmhg) if the systolic pressure is the normal range (i.e in the 90s mmhg)?
1 doctor answer • 6 doctors weighed in
A 45-year old female asked:
Does Verapamil cause orthostatic hyPERtension (e.g. systolic pressure up 28mmHg ftom supine to standing)? If not, what are the common causes of new onset of orthostatic hypertension? Is it related to recent near-syncope episode during exercise?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in
A 44-year old asked:
Blood pressure: does your systolic pressure affect diastolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 22-year old male asked:
Blood Pressure 125/65. I already do P90X and Insanity exercise programs. How do I lower my systolic pressure?
2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in
A 61-year old female asked:
50 year old female. Systolic pressure is normal but diastolic pressure is always low around 50-60. Pulse pressure is normal Should I worry?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
A 35-year old asked:
Why does a rise in the total peripheral resistance and cardiac rate increase the diastolic pressure more than it increases the systolic pressure?
1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in
Download HealthTap
Video visit and message your doctor
