Blood pressure is the measure of the force that blood exerts as it flows through the blood vessels. When the heart contracts it sends a burst of blood through the body, causing blood pressure to increase momentarily. The blood pressure during the heart's contraction is called systolic pressure. In between beats (as the heart rests) blood flow is reduced and the pressure against the walls of the vessels decreases. The blood pressure during the resting period is called diastolic pressure. A person may have chronically high blood pressure, i.e. "hypertension" or chronically low blood pressure, i.e. "hypotension." Both conditions are potentially dangerous and may be controlled through diet, exercise, and certain prescription medications.

View sub-topics at right to learn more about hypertension and hypotension and some of the causes of these conditions.

See Also

  1. Blood Disorders: Overview
  2. High Blood Pressure (hypertension): Overview
  3. Low Blood Pressure (hypotension): Overview
  4. Ativan / Lorazepam
  5. CYPHER Sirolimus-Eluting Coronary Stent (CYPHER Stent)
  6. Procrit / Eprex
  7. ViraMax: Overview
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