Systolic which number

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Staying Healthy. Free Healthbeat Signup Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox! Sign Up. The pulse of the the blood flow and the pressure it exerts change from moment to moment.

It's highest during the heartbeat this is the systolic pressure and lowest between beats diastolic. A blood pressure reading includes both these measurements. Doctors measure blood pressure in these numbers so that there is a standard way of describing the force of the pulsing blood.

Both the systolic and diastolic pressures are important. If the readings are too high, it may mean a person has high blood pressure. If the readings are too low, there may not be enough blood flowing to the brain and other critical organs.

If there are changes in the difference between the two numbers, it's a clue that there may be a heart condition or other problem.

During a heartbeat, the heart is pushing blood out into the arteries. Doctors call this "systole," and that's why it's called the systolic blood pressure. It's the pressure during a heartbeat and the highest pressure measured. When the reading is mmHg or a little below while a person is sitting quietly at rest, the systolic blood pressure is considered normal.

The heart muscle pushes out blood with higher pressure when a person is exercising , under stress, or at similar times when the heart rate is increased. The systolic pressure goes up with it. In these cases, the increased pressure is normal.

However, when the pressure is high while a person is resting, that's considered high blood pressure. That's why it is so important to take your blood pressure during periods of quiet rest to diagnose hypertension , or high blood pressure. High systolic blood pressure is usually caused by narrowing of the arteries, which makes the heart have to work harder to push blood through.

If the systolic blood pressure is lower than normal, it's called hypotension. If this low blood pressure is serious enough, it can cause lightheadedness , dizziness , or fainting. If it lasts long enough and it isn't treated, it may cause organs like your kidneys to start shutting down. Systolic hypotension can occur if the amount of blood in your body becomes too low. This can happen if you are severely dehydrated or you have major bleeding; there just isn't enough blood to push through the body.

It also may happen if the heart muscle is too weak to push blood normally, as in cases of cardiomyopathy damaged heart muscle or if the arteries suddenly widen too much, as in vasovagal syncope a reflex that causes fainting.

Sometimes this low blood pressure happens when you change positions suddenly. You may feel dizzy when you stand up because gravity is pulling blood down toward your feet. This is a common condition called orthostatic hypotension. Your systolic blood pressure is the higher and first number in a blood pressure reading.

If it's too high while you are at rest, you may need to have it treated. But pressure that's too low may be a serious problem too, so be sure to discuss your situation with your doctor. The heart rests between beats so it can refill with blood.

Doctors call this pause between beats "diastole. A normal diastolic blood pressure during quiet rest is 80 mmHg or a little below. If you have high blood pressure, the diastolic number is often higher even during quiet rest. Low diastolic pressure may be seen with dehydration or with severe bleeding. It also may happen if the arteries relax and widen.

Your systolic and diastolic pressures—the highest and lowest points of your heartbeat—change depending on your activity level, stress, fluid intake, and other factors. This means that it is better to limit how these other factors change your pressure when taking a blood pressure reading. For the most accurate reading, it should be taken in a calm, warm space after you rest quietly for at least five minutes.

You should be relaxed, with your arms at your sides, and the cuff should be placed on your arm at about the level of your heart. Your legs should be uncrossed, and your bladder should be empty—both of these can affect your reading. Having blood pressure measures consistently above normal may result in a diagnosis of high blood pressure or hypertension.

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for other health problems, such as heart disease , heart attack , and stroke. Your health care team can diagnose high blood pressure and make treatment decisions by reviewing your systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and comparing them to levels found in certain guidelines.

The guidelines used to diagnose high blood pressure may differ from health care professional to health care professional:. If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, talk with your health care team about your blood pressure levels and how these levels affect your treatment plan.

High blood pressure usually has no warning signs or symptoms, and many people do not know they have it. Measuring your blood pressure is the only way to know whether you have high blood pressure. High blood pressure usually develops over time. It can happen because of unhealthy lifestyle choices, such as not getting enough regular physical activity. Certain health conditions , such as diabetes and having obesity, can also increase the risk for developing high blood pressure.

High blood pressure can also happen during pregnancy. You can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems that may affect your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. High blood pressure can damage your health in many ways. It can seriously hurt important organs like your heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. The good news is that, in most cases, you can manage your blood pressure to lower your risk for serious health problems.

High blood pressure can damage your arteries by making them less elastic, which decreases the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart and leads to heart disease. In addition, decreased blood flow to the heart can cause:. High blood pressure can cause the arteries that supply blood and oxygen to the brain to burst or be blocked, causing a stroke.

Brain cells die during a stroke because they do not get enough oxygen. Stroke can cause serious disabilities in speech, movement, and other basic activities. A stroke can also kill you. Having high blood pressure, especially in midlife, is linked to having poorer cognitive function and dementia later in life.