A normal resting blood pressure for a young adult is recorded as
- A. 80/120 mm Hg
- B. 120/80 mm Hg
- C. 200/100 mm Hg
- D. 60/40 mm Hg
Explanation
The larger figure is the systolic pressure during ventricular contraction and the smaller is the diastolic pressure while the ventricles are relaxed and filling, and the systolic value is always written first. A sustained reading at or above about 140/90 is hypertension, which strains the heart and damages arteries, kidneys and the retina. Reversing the two numbers is the classic careless error.