Blood Pressure Converter

Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against artery walls as the heart pumps. It is measured in two numbers: systolic (pressure during heartbeat) and diastolic (pressure between beats). The traditional unit is millimeters of mercury (mmHg), named after the mercury column used in early blood pressure monitors invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch in 1881. Some countries use kilopascals (kPa) as the SI unit. Normal blood pressure is below 120/80 mmHg (16/10.7 kPa). High blood pressure (hypertension) is 130/80 mmHg or higher and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. The conversion factor is: 1 mmHg = 0.133322 kPa. Despite modern digital devices, mmHg remains the medical standard due to its historical significance and clinical familiarity.