Systolic pressure

Systolic pressure is the pressure in the arteries as the cardiac muscle contracts, it is measured in mm Hg. When a blood pressure reading is taken the systolic pressure is seen as the numerator and the diastolic pressure is the denominator.  A systolic pressure reading of below 120 mm Hg is within the normal range, where as if the reading is 120 - 139 mm Hg the patient is said to have Prehypertension. Stage 1 hypertension patients have a systolic pressure of 140 - 159 mm Hg and stage 2 hypertension patients have a systolic pressure above 160 mm Hg.