Systolic blood pressure

Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading. It measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart contracts and pushes blood out into your body. This number indicates how hard the blood is pushing against the artery walls during a heartbeat. A normal systolic reading is usually below 120 mm Hg. Elevated or high systolic pressure can indicate increased risk of heart disease or stroke. It’s an important measure for assessing cardiovascular health and helps guide medical decisions to keep your blood pressure within healthy ranges.