Blood Pressure For Men What do the blood pressure readings mean?
Blood pressure is the pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries, the veins, and the chambers of the heart. Blood pressure results from two forces. One created by the heart as it pumps blood into the arteries through the circulatory system. The other is the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow. Blood pressure, usually measured by an instrument called a sphygmomanometer is expressed in two figures. a) on contraction- the systolic pressure b) on relaxation- the diastolic pressure. What is a healthy, normal blood pressure? The blood pressure in the large artery of the heart, the aorta, and the other large arteries of a healthy adult is usually 120 mm Hg during the contraction of the heart (systole), and 80 mm Hg during relaxation of the heart (diastole). For adults, a normal reading can be anywhere from 120/70 to 140/90. Readings that are consistently 140/90 or above are considered high and would indicate the need for intervention. A good guide for
