What does RR mean?
When talking about blood pressure, you'll often come across the abbreviation RR. It stands for Riva Rocci and is commonly used in medicine to refer to blood pressure.
The most common way of measuring blood pressure today is still very similar to the Italian doctor's method. An air-filled cuff briefly stops blood flow in a vessel and a pressure gauge then measures the blood pressure. Feeling the radial pulse is used less often now, but it still has its placeespecially in emergency care. More commonly, clinicians listen for the Korotkoff sounds with a stethoscope or detect the oscillations in the blood vessel, as most electronic blood pressure monitors do.
Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury).
Sources
This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands of people monitor their blood pressure every day.
Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based information and is continuously updated (as of 01/2026).
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
Author Sabine Croci is a certified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care. Since 2015 she has led the editorial team at BloodPressureDB. With additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder, and training in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides well-founded, practical, and reliably reviewed information.
