blood pressure

noun

: pressure that is exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries and that varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall

Examples of blood pressure in a Sentence

The doctor says he has high blood pressure.

These drugs help lower blood pressure.

She has a blood pressure of 120.

Recent Examples on the Web

His device would measure changes in pulse, respiration and blood pressure all at once, during continuous monitoring of a subject under interrogation. —Susan Saulny, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024

The letter posted on Trump’s social media platform contained no details about his weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, or the results of any tests to support its claims. —Jason Ma, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024

Using whippets with alcohol may cause more feelings of confusion, fatigue, and lack of coordination, and taking whippets with stimulants might put additional strain on the heart and changes in heat beats or blood pressure, Forcier says. —Katixa Espinoza, Them, 10 Oct. 2024

Pseudoephedrine can increase blood pressure and heart rate, which can counteract the effects of metoprolol. —Karen Berger, Pharmd, Verywell Health, 25 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure of the blood on the walls of blood vessels and especially arteries that varies with physical condition and age

Medical Definition

blood pressure

noun

: pressure exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and especially arteries, usually measured on the radial artery by means of a sphygmomanometer, and expressed in millimeters of mercury either as a fraction having as numerator the maximum pressure that follows systole of the left ventricle of the heart and as denominator the minimum pressure that accompanies cardiac diastole or as a whole number representing the first value only

a blood pressure of 120/80

a blood pressure of 120

—abbreviation BP