Helpful Information - Medline MDS1001U Guía De Operación

HELPFUL INFORMATION

What is Blood Pressure?
Blood Pressure is the force that blood exerts on the arteries. This force is constantly
changing as the heart beats. When the heart contracts, blood pressure reaches its high-
est value. This is called systolic blood pressure. When the heart relaxes between beats,
the value of blood pressure is lower. This is called the diastolic blood pressure. Blood
pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg.
For example, an individual's blood pressure may be measured as 120 mmHg (systolic)
and 80 mmHg (disatolic). This would be spoken as "120 over 80" and written as
"120/80".
Remember that blood pressure varies throughout the day. Eating, smoking, time of day,
stress, level of exercise, and many other factors can affect blood pressure.
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