Hypertension

Blood pressure Is the amount of force exerted against the walls of the arteries as blood flows through them.

High blood pressure is also known as hypertension : If a person has high blood pressure it means that the walls of the arteries are receiving too much pressure repeatedly - the pressure needs to be chronically elevated for a diagnosis of hypertension to be confirmed. In medicine chronic means for a sustained period; persistent.

 Anyone whose blood pressure is 140/90mmhg or more for a sustained period is said to have high blood pressure, or hypertension.

•   Systolic pressure - the blood pressure when the heart contracts, specifically the moment of maximum force during the contraction. This happens when the left ventricle of the heart contracts.
• Diastolic pressure - the blood pressure between heartbeats, when the heart is resting and dilating (opening up, expanding).