Blood Pressure

Definition: Your blood pressure refers to the pressure of circulating blood against your arteries, veins and inside your heart. There are two different forces that make up your blood pressure: When the heart pumps blood into the arteries and when the force of the arteries as they resist the blood flow. When you get your blood pressure checked, you'll see two numbers. The top number refers to your systolic pressure, or the pressure that occurs when your heart contracts. The bottom number refers to your diastolic pressure, or the pressure that occurs when your heart relaxes. A normal blood pressure usually falls between 120/70 to 140/90, but will be different from one person to another.