What does the upper number in a blood pressure reading represent?

In a blood pressure reading, the upper number represents the systolic phase. This measurement indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pumps blood out into the body. It reflects how much pressure is exerted on the walls of the arteries during this phase of the cardiac cycle. A higher systolic reading can indicate an increase in pressure due to various factors such as stress, high salt intake, or other cardiovascular factors. Understanding this is crucial, as elevated systolic pressure can lead to health conditions including hypertension and increased risk of heart disease.

The diastolic phase, indicated by the lower number represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest between beats, and it is essential to differentiate this from systolic pressure to fully understand blood pressure implications. The average pressure and pulse pressure metrics describe different aspects of the cardiovascular dynamics and do not represent the phase of the heartbeat. Therefore, recognizing the significance of the systolic reading is fundamental for assessing cardiovascular health.