Difference between Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

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Arpita Srivastava

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The difference between Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure depends upon the range and type of blood pressure. Systolic and Diastolic are the two types of blood pressure with a range of 90 - 120 and 60 - 80, respectively.

  • An increase in the blood pressure above 140/90 mm of Hg causes Hypertension.
  • A decrease in blood pressure during and after each heartbeat that is lower than 140/90 mm of Hg causes hypotension.
  • Blood is a fluid connective tissue carried to all body parts with the help of arteries.
  • The pressure is created by the blood against the walls of the blood vessel.
  • When blood circulation occurs through the circulatory system, it is termed as blood pressure. 

Key Terms: Difference between Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Blood Presssure, Blood Vessels, Blood, Hypertension, Hypotension, Heart, Diastole, Systole


Systolic Blood Pressure

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Systolic Blood Pressure is initiated when contraction occurs. The maximum pressure at which the blood leaves the heart through the main artery is called systolic pressure.

  • The pressure is high because of the contraction of the ventricles of the heart.
  • The blood pressure inside the arteries is at its maximum, which causes the blood vessels to contract. 

The range of systolic blood pressure is tabulated as follows:

Category  Range
Normal  120mm of Hg
Infants 95mm of Hg
Adults 90 - 120mm of Hg
Six to Nine 100mm of Hg

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Types of Systolic Blood Pressure

The types of Systolic Blood Pressure are as follows:

High Systolic Pressure

High Systolic Pressure is caused by emotional stress and during exercising, which causes the heart to beat faster than usual. The blood pressure goes up because of the increase in cardiac contraction. 

  • During this period, stress is normal.
Low Systolic Pressure 

Low systolic pressure is caused when the pressure is lower than average systolic pressure and blood volume becomes low. This indicates the presence of systolic hypotension

  • It causes dizziness or wooziness, syncope and organ failure. 
  • There is a failure to eject blood or blood vessels dilate, and it gives rise to a phenomenon called cardiomyopathy. 
  • This condition of systolic hypotension is hypotension itself. 

Diastolic Blood Pressure

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Diastolic Blood Pressure occurs during the phase when the heart relaxes or expands and rests between beats. It causes minimum pressure inside the arteries.

  • The diastolic pressure is low because the ventricles of the heart are relaxed. 
  • The blood pressure in the arteries is minimal, and the blood vessels relax.

The range of diastolic blood pressure is tabulated as follows:

Category  Range
Normal  80mm of Hg
Infants 65mm of hg
Adults 60 - 80 mm of Hg
Six to Nine 65mm of Hg

Types of Diastolic Blood Pressure

Various types of Diastolic Blood Pressure are as follows:

High Diastolic Pressure

High Diastolic Pressure usually occurs when the diastolic pressure increases during quiet rest and causes diastolic hypertension

Low Diastolic Pressure

Low diastolic pressure occurs due to dehydration or episodes of bleeding. It is also caused due to abnormal dilapidation of the arteries. 


Blood Pressure

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Blood pressure is defined as the measure of the working of the heart. It is a serious health problem that affects almost 40-50% of the population of the world. It is a form of blood force against the arteries.

  • The main risks associated with blood pressure include failure of organs, heart stock, kidney, and artery damage.
  • It is represented by two numbers, namely systole and diastole.
  • When the heart beats, blood moves to different body parts through arteries.
  • The range of healthy blood pressure is 90 – 120 / 60 – 80 mm Hg.
Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure

Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure 


Systole and Diastole

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Systole is the phase of the heartbeat when the heart contracts and pumps blood into arteries. The phase of the heartbeat when the heart expands or relaxes and allows the chambers to fill with blood is called diastole.

  • During heartbeats, blood is pumped around our body and organs to give us oxygen and energy. 
  • Blood volume, blood vessels, vessel space, and the force of the heart affects blood pressure.
  • Lastly, blood viscosity is a factor that affects blood pressure. 
  • During the process, when the heart pumps blood, it contracts and expands.
  • If blood pressure is high, that extra strain is produced on the arteries or heart.
  • It might lead to a heart attack. 
  • Hence, maintaining normal blood pressure is essential for living a healthy life. 

Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure

Diastolic and Systolic Blood Pressure


Difference between Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure

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The difference between Systolic Blood Pressure and Diastolic Blood Pressure are as follows:

Systolic blood pressure Diastolic blood pressure
Systolic pressure is a form of pressure which occurs when blood leaves the heart.  Diastolic pressure is exerted on the walls of the arteries when the heart muscles relax in between two beats
The range of this pressure for various categories are as follows: In infants –95mmHg. In adults– 90-120 mmHg. Age 6 to 9 –100 mmHg. The range of this pressure for various categories are as follows: In infants–65 mm Hg. In adults– 60-80 mmHg. Age 6 – 9 — 65 mmHg.
Ventricles of heart contract in case of this pressure. Ventricles of heart are relaxed in case of this pressure.
The reading of systolic pressure is high The reading of diastolic pressure is low
The pressure inside the arteries is maximum The pressure inside the arteries is minimum.
In such case blood vessels contracts. In such case blood vessels is relaxed

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Things to Remember

  • The difference between Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure depends upon the pressure inside the arteries.
  • Blood pressure is a force exerted by blood cells on the walls of the artery during circulation.
  • Stress is a serious contributor to the rise in the blood pressure.
  • Low systolic blood pressure causes hypotension, and high diastolic pressure usually occurs during quiet rest.
  • Maintaining normal blood pressure is essential for a healthy and long life.

Sample Questions

Ques. What is a circulatory system? (3 marks)

Ans. The circulatory system is also known as the cardiovascular system that is a network of blood vessels and organs that provides nutrition, oxygen and hormones to different parts of our body.

  • It is also a system that acts both as delivery and waste removal from our body
  • Thus producing and delivering energy to different organs of the human body.
  • It result in the removal of the waste carbon dioxide respiratory system from our body.

Ques. What is the normal blood pressure range? (3 marks)

Ans. The normal blood pressure ranges during the contraction and the relaxation phase is 120 mmHg for systolic pressure and 80mmHg for diastolic pressure.

  • Nonetheless, there are two types of blood pressure reading, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure.
  • Systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure during the contraction phase of the heart.
  • Diastolic pressure measures the remaining pressure during the relaxation phase of the heart. 

Ques. What is the unit through which blood pressure is measured? (2 marks)

Ans. The unit of measuring blood pressure is called millimetre of mercury or mmHg. The readings in all the cases are given in pairs, with the systolic or the upper values followed by the diastolic or the lower value. For example, if a reading of a blood pressure is 132 over 88 mmHg, it has a systolic blood pressure of 132mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 88mmHg.

Ques. What instrument is used to measure blood pressure? (3 marks)

Ans. Blood pressure is measured using an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. Often the sphygmomanometer is also called a blood pressure cuff.

  • The cuff usually is wrapped around the upper arm and inflated so that it stops the blood flow in the human artery.
  • The first pumping sound is recorded as the systolic pressure and the last pumping sound is the diastolic pressure. 

Ques. What is hypertension? (2 marks)

Ans. When there is a rise in the blood pressure above 140mmHg to 90mmHg it is called hypertension. This rise in the blood may cause the deposition of cholesterol on the walls of the blood vessels which further leads to stiffness in the blood vessels too. 

Ques. What is the span of a cardiac cycle? (2 marks)

Ans. In the circulatory system, the time period during which the different events of a cardiac cycle is recorded is called the cardiac cycle time. In normal conditions, a human heart beats at the rate of 72 per minute, therefore, the time period of each cardiac cycle is repeated after every 0.8 seconds. 

Ques. What is the output of a cardiac cycle? (2 marks)

Ans. In one heartbeat, that is, during each cardiac cycle, the heart pumps 70ml of blood to the body organs to the respective blood vessels. The volume of blood produced by the body in a minute is called the cardiac output. After every cardiac cycle performed in the circulatory system, the heart produces 5 litres of blood into the body. 

Ques. What is hypotension? (2 marks)

Ans. A decrease in blood pressure below 100mmHg to 60mmHg in adults indicates hypotension. It can be caused by loss of blood, failure of the pumping action of the heart or anaemia as well. Although hypotension is not that alarming, it might, in some cases, lead to dizziness, lightheadedness or transient episodes of fainting.

Ques. What are the ways to control blood pressure? (3 marks)

Ans. The ways to control blood pressure are as follows:

  • Regularly perform physical exercises two or three times a week to reduce pressure on the heart.
  • Try to include fruits, vegetables, and grains in your diets.
  • Avoid consuming alcohol and smoking cigarettes.
  • Indulge in mediation to reduce stress in your mind.
  • Visit doctor for regular health check-ups.

Ques. What is the difference between hypertension and hypotension? (3 marks)

Ans. The difference between hypertension and hypotension are as follows:

Hypertension Hypotension
Hypertension will cause thickening of walls. Hypotension is caused by expansion of arteries.
It will cause loss of elasticity. It will cause loss of blood.
Its symptoms include chest pain and headache. Its symptoms include fainting and fatigue.

Ques. What are the risk factor associated in blood pressure? (2 marks)

Ans. The risk factors associated in blood pressure are as follows:

  • Age
  • Stress
  • Usage of Drugs
  • Hierarchy 
  • Obesity 
  • Low physicial activities

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