Your blood pressure is recorded as two numbers (for example, 124/85 mm Hg, as shown in the graphic).
The more blood your heart pumps and the more narrow your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. This pressure is very important because it allows the blood to flow through the arteries and deliver nutrients to all the organs of your body. How does blood pressure relate to cardiovascular disease?īlood pressure is the result of circulating blood exerting pressure against the walls of your arteries.
