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Each
time your nurse or physician "takes"
your blood pressure, they are recording two
measurements: your systolic pressure and your
diastolic pressure. If the two measurements were
110 and 70, they would be written as
"110/70". Your physician or nurse will
describe your blood pressure as "one-ten over
seventy".
Your
systolic pressure (the first and highest
number) is the pressure or force the heart places
on the walls of your blood vessels as it is
working/pumping with each heartbeat.
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Diastolic
pressure (the second and lowest number) is the lowest
pressure the blood places on the walls of your blood vessels
when the heart is relaxed between beats.
Both of these
measurements are important. A high systolic pressure
indicates strain on the blood vessels when the heart is
attempting to pump blood into your bloodstream. If your
diastolic pressure is high, it means that your blood vessels
have little chance to relax between heartbeats.
Occasional
high blood pressure is common. Anxiety, exercise, or
nervousness can cause you to have a high reading (seeing a
nurse or physician for the first time can cause this
response). Untreated sustained high blood pressure can
increase your risk of premature strokes and heart attacks.
If your blood pressure is 140/90* or higher, you will be
asked to return for a recheck at your earliest convenience.
If your blood pressure remains high, you will be referred to
a physician for treatment.
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