Have you noticed that every time you visit your doctor he will measure your blood pressure? Have you ever wondered what actually is meant by blood pressure? It is the measurement of the amount of pressure the blood exerts on the internal lining of the blood vessels. The blood pressure is measured at different points in the cardiac cycle in order to record the systolic and the diastolic blood pressure levels.
The recording that shows the maximum amount of pressure that is exerted on the arteries is referred to as the systolic blood pressure. When the heart beats or contracts in order to pump blood this will indicate the systolic blood pressure levels. The systolic blood pressure can be recorded, when the individual is seated and it is recorded in mmHg or millimeters of mercury.
The systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings are used to gauge the heart function as well as the neurological, urological and psychological factors. Today most people are affected by stress and the blood pressure will rise when there are very high levels of stress. This may be used as a signal of underlying diseases and therefore it is important to inculcate a healthy lifestyle in order to bring down the blood pressure levels to normal range.