Systolic blood pressure
Systolic Blood Pressure
Systolic blood pressure (pronunciation: sis-TOL-ik) is a term used in the medical field to refer to the highest pressure reached by the blood against the arteries' walls when the heart contracts. It is the first or top number in a blood pressure reading.
Etymology
The term "systolic" comes from the Greek word "systole," which means "a drawing together or a contraction." The term "blood pressure" is self-explanatory, referring to the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels.
Definition
Systolic blood pressure is the maximum pressure exerted by the blood against the artery walls during the systolic phase of the cardiac cycle. It is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and is always stated first in blood pressure readings. For example, in a blood pressure reading of 120/80 mmHg, 120 represents the systolic blood pressure.
Related Terms
- Diastolic blood pressure: This is the lowest pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats. It is the second or bottom number in a blood pressure reading.
- Hypertension: This is a condition characterized by consistently high blood pressure, often defined as a systolic blood pressure above 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure above 80 mmHg.
- Hypotension: This is a condition characterized by consistently low blood pressure, often defined as a systolic blood pressure below 90 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure below 60 mmHg.
- Cardiac cycle: This refers to the sequence of events that occur when the heart beats. It includes two phases: systole and diastole.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Systolic blood pressure
- Wikipedia's article - Systolic blood pressure
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