blood pressure

noun

: pressure that is exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries and that varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall

Examples of blood pressure in a Sentence

The doctor says he has high blood pressure.

These drugs help lower blood pressure.

She has a blood pressure of 120.

Recent Examples on the Web

Iran’s historic action has raised the country's blood pressure as President Joe Biden and a divided Congress look to respond without further escalating the Gaza Strip crisis amid other international conflicts. —USA TODAY, 17 Apr. 2024

Have your blood pressure regularly monitored before, during and after pregnancy. —Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 15 Apr. 2024

Learning to manage your stress: Chronic (long-term) stress can raise your blood pressure, a significant heart attack risk factor. —Yuliya Klochan, Health, 14 Apr. 2024

For You Studies have shown that excessive alcohol consumption can worsen blood pressure levels. —Alyssa Hui, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2024

Its use as a blood pressure medicine was approved in 1960. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

Simple: This ingredient can speed up your heartbeat and raise your blood pressure. —Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

And controlling your blood pressure is important as high blood pressure can lead to all sorts of health problems such as heart disease and stroke. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

The physical will measure things like blood pressure and pulse and listen for heart murmurs. —Amanda Sealy, CNN, 7 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure of the blood on the walls of blood vessels and especially arteries that varies with physical condition and age

Medical Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries, usually measured on the radial artery by means of a sphygmomanometer, and expressed in millimeters of mercury either as a fraction having as numerator the maximum pressure that follows systole of the left ventricle of the heart and as denominator the minimum pressure that accompanies cardiac diastole or as a whole number representing the first value only

a blood pressure of 120/80

a blood pressure of 120

—abbreviation BP