Relating to the phase of the heartbeat when the heart muscle contracts and pushes blood out into the arteries.
From Greek 'systole' meaning 'contraction,' derived from 'syn-' (together) and 'stellein' (to place). The term was adopted into medical English in the 17th century to describe the heart's contracting phase.
Your systolic pressure is the first (bigger) number in blood pressure readings like 120/80—and it's literally the moment your heart squeezes to pump blood throughout your entire body!
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