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

Most of these conditions are associated with postural hypotension, or orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure when moving from lying down to sitting or standing upright.5 Postural hypotension is a sign of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. —Lindsay Curtis, Health, 24 Dec. 2024

Too much salt increases blood pressure and increases the risk of developing high blood pressure, note the experts at John Hopkins Medicine. —Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 17 Dec. 2024

In such cases, drugs known as antihypertensive medications can be prescribed to help lower your blood pressure, each of which works in different ways. —James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 16 Dec. 2024

The Apple Watch, on the other hand, could also get some useful features in the form of blood pressure monitoring and satellite texting. —Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 16 Dec. 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