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High Blood Pressure
Frequently Asked Questions
5. Blood pressure is always given as two
numbers. What do they mean?
Blood pressure is always given as two numbers, the systolic and
diastolic pressures. Your systolic pressure is the pressure of
blood in the vessels when your heart beats. Your diastolic pressure
is the pressure between beats when your heart relaxes. Although
both numbers are important, having only high systolic blood
pressure, a condition called isolated systolic hypertension, is
more common in older adults, and can cause as much harm as high
blood pressure in which both numbers are too high. (Answer
continues on next page.)
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