Glossary

Glossary


Systolic blood pressure
A blood pressure reading records a systolic pressure—the highest pressure measured when the heart contracts with each beat, and a diastolic pressure — the lowest pressure measured in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats. A normal blood pressure reading is below 120/80 mmHg. Between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg is considered prehypertension; and a blood pressure reading 140/90 mmHg is considered high blood pressure.
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