Understanding Your Blood Pressure Reading: Systolic, Diastolic & Pulse
A blood pressure monitor shows three numbers — systolic, diastolic, and pulse — usually written as "120/80, pulse 72." Here's what each one actually measures and why all three matter together, not just the top number.
The three numbers, explained
Systolic (top number)
The pressure in your arteries when your heart beats and pushes blood out. This is the number that tends to get the most attention.
Diastolic (bottom number)
The pressure in your arteries between heartbeats, while your heart rests and refills. It matters just as much for staging a reading.
Pulse (heart rate)
How many times your heart beats per minute — a separate measurement from blood pressure, but usually captured alongside it.
Written together as one reading
"120/80" means a systolic of 120 and a diastolic of 80 — always read as systolic over diastolic, in that order.
Understanding Your Blood Pressure Reading: Systolic, Diastolic & Pulse — FAQ
Which number matters more, systolic or diastolic?
Both matter, but current guidelines generally weight systolic slightly more heavily for cardiovascular risk in adults over 50, since it tends to be the number that rises most with age. Either number reaching a high range is worth discussing with a doctor.
Does CardiLog calculate anything beyond the three basic numbers?
Yes. Every reading you log also gets Mean Arterial Pressure and Pulse Pressure calculated automatically, alongside your stage classification.
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