What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, as the heart pumps blood through the body.

It is measured using two values: systolic pressure and diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure is the pressure when the heart contracts and pumps blood, while diastolic pressure is the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats.

Blood pressure is usually measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). A normal blood pressure for a healthy adult is generally around 120/80 mmHg.

Maintaining normal blood pressure is important because very high or very low blood pressure can affect the functioning of organs and overall health.