What do the blood pressure numbers mean?

Question

What do the blood pressure numbers mean?

Answer 1

With each beat, your heart contracts, sending a surge of pressure into the bloodstream. This surge period is called systolic (sis-TAHL-ik). It is the first number in a blood pressure reading. After the surge period, your heart rests briefly and expands in preparation for another beat. This expansion period is called diastolic (di-uh-STAHL-ik). It provides the second number in a blood pressure reading. Thus, a blood pressure reading of "120 over 80" means you have a systolic pressure of 120 and a diastolic pressure of 80.

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Answer 2

the top number is the amount of pressure on your arteries when your heart pumps blood out, the bottom number is the amount of pressure on your arteries when your heart is refilling.  the bottom number is the most important because it shows the lowest amount of pressure that is always against the artery walls.