Blood pressure readings

#DecodeYourHealth

Understanding blood pressure

- Measures the force exerted by blood on the blood vessels
- Expressed as two values

  • Systolic pressure: maximum force when the heart contracts
  • Diastolic pressure: minimum arterial pressure when the heart relaxes

Complications of varied blood pressure

  • Hypertension (high blood pressure):
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Stroke
    • Kidney damage
    • Vision loss
  • Hypotension (low blood pressure):
    • Dizziness and fainting
    • Shock
    • Reduced blood flow
    • Heart problems

Inferring blood pressure