What is systolic what is diastolic

What are the signs and symptoms of high blood pressure? What causes high blood pressure? What problems does high blood pressure cause? What can I do to prevent or manage high blood pressure? Close You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

Learn about conditions related to high blood pressure. Measure Your Blood Pressure. Prevent and Manage Your Blood Pressure. J Am Coll Cardiol. Top of Page. Get Email Updates. To receive email updates about this page, enter your email address: Email Address. What's this? Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the CDC website. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website.

You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. According to the American Heart Association , your heart beats 60 to times per minute, or about , times per day.

As it beats, blood is forced against your artery walls. Your systolic blood pressure is the top number on your reading. It measures the force of blood against your artery walls while your ventricles — the lower two chambers of your heart — squeeze, pushing blood out to the rest of your body. Your diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number on your reading.

It measures the force of blood against your artery walls as your heart relaxes and the ventricles are allowed to refill with blood. Diastole — this period of time when your heart relaxes between beats — is also the time that your coronary artery is able to supply blood to your heart. Your blood pressure may be normal, high, or low. High blood pressure is also referred to as hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.

The American Heart Association describes the different blood pressure ranges for adults as:. Your doctor may diagnose high blood pressure if either your systolic or diastolic is high, or if both numbers are high. Both high blood pressure and low blood pressure need to be managed. According to the American College of Cardiology , almost half of the adults in the United States now fit the new definition of high blood pressure. Not surprisingly, the risk factors for these two conditions are very different.

Your gender affects your risk of high blood pressure. The American Heart Association states that men are at a higher risk of high blood pressure than women are until age But at 65 years and older, women are at higher risk than men. Your risk is also higher if:. When your breathing is inadequate, your oxygen levels fall and your blood vessels constrict.

This increases your blood pressure. When sleep apnea is persistent, this increased blood pressure may continue during the day when breathing is normal. In: Hurst's the Heart. McGraw-Hill Education; Mancusi C, et al. Higher pulse pressure and risk for cardiovascular events in patients with essential hypertension: The Campania Salute Network.

European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. See also Medication-free hypertension control 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use? Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood pressure chart Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter? Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern? Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather?

Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight? Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides? Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home? Blood pressure test Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes How kidneys work Build resilience to better handle diabetes Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?

Caffeine and hypertension Calcium channel blockers Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs? Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure? Diabetes and foot care Diabetes and Heat Diabetes and menopause Diabetes and summer: How to beat the heat Diabetes and travel: Planning is key Diabetes and electric blankets 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?

Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar? Diabetes and liver Diabetes management: Does aspirin therapy prevent heart problems? Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar Diabetes: Eating out Diabetes nutrition: Sweets Diabetes symptoms Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar? Using insulin Diuretics Diuretics: A cause of low potassium?

Diuretics: Cause of gout? Dizziness Do infrared saunas have any health benefits? Do you know your blood pressure? Does obstructive sleep apnea increase my risk for Alzheimer's disease?

Carey RM, et al. Taler SJ. Initial treatment of hypertension. The New England Journal of Medicine. See also Medication-free hypertension control 6 surprising signs you may have obstructive sleep apnea After a flood, are food and medicines safe to use?

Alcohol: Does it affect blood pressure? Beta blockers: How do they affect exercise? Blood pressure cuff: Does size matter? Blood pressure: Does it have a daily pattern? Blood pressure: Is it affected by cold weather? Blood pressure medication: Still necessary if I lose weight? Blood pressure medications: Can they raise my triglycerides? Blood pressure readings: Why higher at home? Blood pressure test Blood pressure tip: Get more potassium Blood pressure tip: Get off the couch Blood pressure tip: Know alcohol limits Blood pressure tip: Stress out no more Blood pressure tip: Watch the caffeine Blood pressure tip: Watch your weight Blood sugar levels can fluctuate for many reasons Blood sugar testing: Why, when and how Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes How kidneys work Build resilience to better handle diabetes Bump on the head: When is it a serious head injury?

Caffeine and hypertension Calcium channel blockers Calcium supplements: Do they interfere with blood pressure drugs? Can whole-grain foods lower blood pressure? Diabetes and foot care Diabetes and Heat Diabetes and menopause Diabetes and summer: How to beat the heat Diabetes and travel: Planning is key Diabetes and electric blankets 10 ways to avoid diabetes complications Diabetes diet: Should I avoid sweet fruits?

Diabetes diet: Create your healthy-eating plan Diabetes foods: Can I substitute honey for sugar? Diabetes and liver Diabetes management: Does aspirin therapy prevent heart problems? Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar Diabetes: Eating out Diabetes nutrition: Sweets Diabetes symptoms Diabetes treatment: Can cinnamon lower blood sugar? Using insulin Diuretics Diuretics: A cause of low potassium? Diuretics: Cause of gout? Dizziness Do infrared saunas have any health benefits?

Do you know your blood pressure? Does obstructive sleep apnea increase my risk for Alzheimer's disease?