Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and shows how much pressure your blood puts on your artery walls when your heart contracts and pumps blood out.

Quick Scoop

  • It is the first (upper) number you see, for example in a reading like 120/80, the “120” is the systolic blood pressure.
  • It measures the peak pressure in your arteries at the moment your heart squeezes (beats) and pushes blood through your body.
  • A normal systolic blood pressure is usually described as less than 120 mm Hg when at rest.
  • Consistent systolic readings of 130 mm Hg or higher are considered high blood pressure (hypertension) and increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
  • After about age 50, systolic pressure becomes an especially important predictor of cardiovascular problems.

Why it matters

When systolic blood pressure is too high for a long time, it can damage the inner lining of your arteries, making them stiffer and more prone to plaque buildup, heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. When it is too low, some people may feel dizzy, weak, or faint because their organs are not getting enough blood and oxygen during each heartbeat.

Simple picture

Think of your heart like a hand squeezing a garden hose: the squeeze moment is the heartbeat, and the force of water against the inside of the hose at that moment is like your systolic blood pressure.

Meta description:
Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading and measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats, a key indicator for heart and stroke risk.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.