Taking your blood pressure Blood pressure is often checked by putting a wide band, called a cuff, around your upper arm. Air is pumped into the cuff. Your blood pressure is measured as the air is let out of the cuff. Blood pressure is one number over a second number. You may hear your doctor say 110 over 72 (110/72), for example. • The top number is higher and is called the systolic reading. It is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart pumps. • The bottom number is lower and is called the diastolic reading. It is the pressure in the blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.

High blood pressure in pregnancy can be measured using a cuff around the upper arm, with systolic reading (heart pumps) over diastolic reading (heart rests).

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High blood pressure in pregnancy.

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