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systolic and diastolic blood pressure

systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure of blood in the artery when the heart contracts. it is the top (and higher) number in a blood pressure reading.

diastolic blood pressure refers to the pressure of blood in the artery when the heart relaxes between beats. it is the bottom (and lower) number in a blood pressure reading.

for example, if a person's systolic pressure is 120 millimetres of mercury (mm hg) and the diastolic pressure is 80 mm hg, blood pressure is recorded as 120/80 and read as "120 over 80."

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this information does not replace the advice of a doctor. healthwise, incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. your use of this information means that you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy. to learn more about healthwise, visit healthwise.org. © 1995-2022 healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, healthwise for every health decision, and the healthwise logo are trademarks of healthwise, incorporated.

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