When measuring the blood pressure nurses often say numbers like”120 on 80″. What exactly do those numbers mean and why do you die when they coincide?

Question

When measuring the blood pressure nurses often say numbers like”120 on 80″. What exactly do those numbers mean and why do you die when they coincide?

In: Biology

Answer 1

Systolic pressure (120) must be greater than diastolic pressure (80) in order to move blood through vessels. The closer those numbers become, the less blood flow you’re getting. If they’re both too high (so, in excess of normal ranges), you’ve got some stress on your cardiovascular system that could be dangerous if they become too high.