blood pressure

noun

Physiology.

1. the pressure of the blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels, varying in different parts of the body during different phases of contraction of the heart and under different conditions of health, exertion, etc. BP

blood pressure

noun

1. the pressure exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the arteries, being relative to the elasticity and diameter of the vessels and the force of the heartbeat

blood pressure

1. The pressure of the blood in the vessels, especially the arteries, as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure varies with the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood being pumped, and the elasticity of the blood vessels. Arterial blood pressure is usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer and reported in millimeters of mercury as a fraction, with the numerator equal to the blood pressure during systole and the denominator equal to the blood pressure during diastole.

2. See more at hypertension hypotension

blood pressure

1. The pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels, especially the arteries. It is expressed in two figures, said to be one “over” the other: the systolic pressure, which is the pressure when the left ventricle of the heart contracts to push the blood through the body; and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the ventricle relaxes and fills with blood. Blood pressure is affected by the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood in the body, the elasticity of the blood vessels, and the age and general health of the person. (See circulatory system.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood pressure¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

Investigators collected demographic information, medical history, cholesterol levels, blood pressure readings, and the timing of symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

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Issues such as obesity, high blood pressure and insulin resistance place strain on the body's metabolic and vascular systems.

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Even after accounting for important contributors such as obesity, age and high blood pressure, the investigators still found a clear association between untreated sleep apnea and Parkinson's disease.

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Excess sodium raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

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Although the study looked at healthy brains, this is also the age at which dementia and high blood pressure, which affects brain health, are starting to show.

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