Definition

1. Noun:
   • The maximum arterial blood pressure during a single heartbeat cycle: Systolic pressure is the higher of the two numbers in a blood pressure reading, representing the pressure in the arteries when the heart muscle contracts (systole) to pump blood into the circulatory system.

Usage

• Systolic pressure is a key vital sign and medical measurement.
• It is always expressed as a numerical value, typically in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg), and is the first number in a blood pressure reading (e.g., 120 in "120/80").
• It is used to assess cardiovascular health and diagnose conditions like hypertension.

Examples

• Noun:
  • A normal systolic pressure for an adult is typically less than 120 mm Hg.
  • The doctor was concerned because the patient's systolic pressure had risen to 160.
  • Monitoring your systolic pressure is crucial for managing heart health.

Advanced Usage

• "Elevated systolic pressure": A condition where the systolic reading is consistently above the normal range, often a precursor to hypertension.
  • The study focused on treatments for patients with isolated elevated systolic pressure.

Variants and Related Words

• Diastolic pressure (n): The lower number in a blood pressure reading, representing the arterial pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.
• Blood pressure (n): The pressure of the blood against the walls of the arteries, of which systolic pressure is a component.
• Pulse pressure (n): The numerical difference between the systolic and diastolic pressure readings.

Synonyms

• Systolic blood pressure: A full, formal synonym.
• Top number (informal): A common informal reference to the systolic reading in a blood pressure measurement.

Related Terms and Phrases

• Hypertension: The medical term for high blood pressure, often defined by elevated systolic and/or diastolic readings.
• Sphygmomanometer: The device used to measure blood pressure, including systolic pressure.

Noun

1. the blood pressure (as measured by a sphygmomanometer) during the contraction of the left ventricle of the heart