Blood pressure is the force in the arteries and is recorded in two measurements in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Systolic pressure, the top number, is the higher pressure. It’s measured when our heart beats (contracts) and forces blood out to the body. Diastolic pressure is the bottom number. It's the minimum pressure. It occurs when the heart relaxes between beats. According to the American Heart Association, in a normal person, the systolic pressure should be less than 120 mm Hg and less than 80 mm Hg for the diastolic pressure. High blood pressure (or hypertension) is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure.
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