blood pressure

noun

, Physiology.

1. the pressure of the blood against the inner walls of the blood vessels, varying in different parts of the body during different phases of contraction of the heart and under different conditions of health, exertion, etc. : BP

blood pressure

noun

1. the pressure exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the arteries, being relative to the elasticity and diameter of the vessels and the force of the heartbeat

blood pressure

1. The pressure of the blood in the vessels, especially the arteries, as it circulates through the body. Blood pressure varies with the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood being pumped, and the elasticity of the blood vessels. Arterial blood pressure is usually measured by means of a sphygmomanometer and reported in millimeters of mercury as a fraction, with the numerator equal to the blood pressure during systole and the denominator equal to the blood pressure during diastole.
2. See more at hypertension

blood pressure

1. The pressure of the blood against the walls of the blood vessels , especially the arteries . It is expressed in two figures, said to be one “over” the other: the systolic pressure, which is the pressure when the left ventricle of the heart contracts to push the blood through the body; and the diastolic pressure, which is the pressure when the ventricle relaxes and fills with blood. Blood pressure is affected by the strength of the heartbeat, the volume of blood in the body, the elasticity of the blood vessels, and the age and general health of the person. ( See circulatory system .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood pressure¹

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

“I was very overweight and had hip problems and blood pressure problems,” Katz says.

From Los Angeles Times

Systematic reviews have shown green tea leads to weight loss in people with obesity, lower levels of certain types of cholesterol, and reduced blood pressure.

From Salon

“People lose sleep, people waste time, anxiety can raise people’s blood pressure, it affects people’s relationships — there’s all sorts of things,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

She had been due to give birth at home, but because she had high blood pressure, her labour was induced in a West Midlands hospital.

From BBC

By then, more than two hours after her arrival, Crain’s blood pressure had plummeted and a nurse had noted that her lips were “blue and dusky.”

From Salon