what is the difference when checking blood pressure with the top # and the bottom # whats more important?

Answer 1

They are both imortant, the top number is your heart rate and I cant remember what the bottom is but if they are both high then you have high blood pressure.

Answer 2

The top number is called the systolic and it is the peak of maximum pressure when ejection from the heart occurs; the bottom number is the diastolic which is the minimum pressure exerted from the blood remaining in the arteries when the ventricles relax. Normal BP is 120/80; Hypotension is when the systolic or top number falls below 90; hypertension is when the BP exceeds 140/90 in 2 or more visits to the doctor. I would say the diastolic number is more important, but they both need to be looked at to get an accurate blood pressure

Answer 3

Systolic 120 (top)
Diastolic 80 (bottom)

Normal blood pressure readings are 120 / 80 (measured in mmHG).

A blood pressure reading of 140 / 90 is borderline hypertension High blood pressure.

Blood pressure readings of 141 / 90 - 160 / 95 are a moderate to high risk.

Blood pressure reading higher than 160 / 95 is a high risk.

Answer 4

The higher number is the more important one - as that indicates the actual pressure on the arterial wall with each pump of the heart.

120/70 is good.
140/90 is bad.
160/anything is HORRIBLE.

Answer 5

The bottom....and the difference between the two numbers ! If both are high (187/111), that's a problem!!!!