How is blood pressure typically expressed?

Blood pressure is typically expressed as a fraction, which consists of two numbers separated by a slash. The first number represents systolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, while the second number represents diastolic pressure, which is the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats. This method of expression effectively communicates both components of blood pressure and provides a complete picture of cardiovascular health.

Other expressions for blood pressure, such as single numbers or terms related to heart rate, do not encompass all the necessary information regarding the dynamics of blood flow and pressure within the cardiovascular system. Additionally, while blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (often abbreviated as mmHg), this is about the unit of measurement rather than how blood pressure is structurally expressed.