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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 highest 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. The unit of measure for blood pressure is millimeters of mercury,
abbreviated mmHg. For example, an individual’s blood pressure may be measured as 120 mmHg (systolic)
and 80 mmHg (diastolic). This would be spoken as “120 over 80” and written as “120/80”.
Remember that blood pressure varies throughout the day. Food intake, smoking, the time of day, stress,
level of exercise and many other factors can affect it.
Typical Daily Blood Pressure Fluctuations
(Example: 35-yr old male)
What is High Blood Pressure?
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a condition where an individual’s blood pressure remains high
over a long period of time. Consult with your physician with any questions or concerns you may have
about hypertension.
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