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

Example Sentences

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

Treatments could include intravenous fluids, induced vomiting or moderating blood pressure. —Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023

This makes blood thicker and raises blood pressure, boosting the risk of clots in the brain. —Jake Frederico, The Arizona Republic, 19 Apr. 2023

Magnesium has a wide range of positive side effects, such as relieving muscle cramps, preventing migraines, and slightly lowering blood pressure. —Julia Landwehr, Health, 27 Feb. 2023

Cut back on salt, which increases blood pressure. —Fortune Well, 21 Feb. 2023

This research lead to studies that proved that music could lower blood pressure, decrease pulse rate, and assist the parasympathetic nervous system, which can affect digestion and some metabolic processes. —Nicole Dellert, Allure, 21 Feb. 2023

Noom also encourages you to log other health markers like blood glucose, blood pressure, and water intake. —Women's Health, 18 Apr. 2023

Studies show that the calming nature of, well, nature can reduce blood pressure, heart rate and levels of the stress hormone cortisol. —Good Housekeeping Editors, Good Housekeeping, 15 Apr. 2023

Over the following year, cardiometabolic risk factors—including blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels—rose in participants who stopped taking semaglutide but remained lower than those in the placebo group.1 However, regaining weight is usually not as beneficial as keeping it off. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 13 Apr. 2023

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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