{"id":61117,"date":"2023-04-07T12:00:14","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T06:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/?p=61117"},"modified":"2026-03-25T12:54:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T07:24:07","slug":"how-can-you-measure-your-systolic-and-diastolic-blood-pressure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.adityabirlacapital.com\/healthinsurance\/active-together\/2023\/04\/07\/how-can-you-measure-your-systolic-and-diastolic-blood-pressure\/","title":{"rendered":"Systolic Vs. Diastolic Blood Pressure: Understanding Your Heart’s Rhythm"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ever wondered what those two numbers in your blood pressure reading really mean? <\/span>It\u2019s more than just digits\u2014it\u2019s a window into your heart\u2019s rhythm and overall health.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is blood pressure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"High<\/p>\n

Blood pressure is the force that circulating blood exerts on the walls of arteries. A headache, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fainting are all symptoms of high and low blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

Systolic and diastolic blood pressure<\/b><\/h2>\n

Monitor your blood pressure readings to figure out if you need to control it. The pulse of blood flow and the pressure it applies vary periodically. Measuring your systolic and diastolic blood pressure determines your total blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is systolic blood pressure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Systolic blood pressure is the higher reading. During a heartbeat, the heart pushes the blood out into the arteries, and this is known as systole. It is used to<\/span> measure high blood pressure<\/b><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The heart tends to push more blood out during exercise or when a person is under stress. In cases where an individual is involved in some activity, increased pressure is a normal phenomenon. However, if the pressure reading is high in a resting state, that is a condition of hypertension or high blood pressure. High systolic pressure is caused by the narrowing of the arteries, which makes the cardiac muscles work harder to push blood through.<\/span><\/p>\n

Low systolic pressure is when the blood pressure range is lower than normal and is known as hypotension. When you are severely dehydrated or lose a lot of blood, there isn’t enough blood to circulate through your body, which can cause light-headedness. Pregnancy, heart-related and endocrine problems, or a lack of nutrients in your diet can also lead to hypotension.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is diastolic blood pressure?<\/b><\/h2>\n

The heart rests between beats when it refills blood and gets oxygen. This pause between two beats is known as diastole. Diastolic pressure is the measurement during this pause before the next heartbeat and is used to measure low blood pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

You need to stay relaxed to get the correct systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. Keep your legs uncrossed, arms by your side, and your bladder empty, as these factors can affect the readings. Doctors use a stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat while checking your blood pressure. If you measure your blood pressure at home, place the cuff on your arm at the same level as your heart, and then measure the blood pressure range on an electronic monitoring machine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Which is more important<\/b>?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Both are important. However, doctors may focus more on your systolic pressure. That\u2019s because research shows that high systolic blood pressure is linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, such as heart attack and stroke. High diastolic pressure can also impact your risk, but to a lesser extent.<\/span><\/p>\n

However,<\/span> research indicates that<\/b><\/a> diastolic blood pressure might be more significant as a cardiovascular risk factor for people under 50.<\/span><\/p>\n

Blood pressure range<\/b><\/h2>\n

A healthy adult\u2019s<\/span> normal blood pressure<\/b><\/a> is 120 mmHg during systole (peak artery pressure) and 80 mmHg during diastole (resting phase of the heartbeat). Elevated blood pressure occurs when readings consistently range from 120-129 systolic and less than 80 mmHg diastolic, increasing the risk of developing high blood pressure. The first stage of hypertension occurs when blood pressure exceeds 130-139 mmHg systolic and 80-89 mmHg diastolic, while the second stage begins at 140\/90 mmHg. Therefore, it is a good practise to measure your blood pressure levels regularly.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes and risk factors<\/b><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s much more common to have high blood pressure than low blood pressure. The risk factors for these two conditions are very different.<\/span><\/p>\n

Causes and risk factors for high blood pressure<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some risk factors for hypertension, such as age, genetics, and family history, are beyond your control. For example, people assigned male at birth are more likely to develop high blood pressure at an earlier age. Other risk factors include lifestyle habits and additional health conditions, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n