Blood Pressure

BP Measurement A pressure cuff is put on the arm and pumped to a pressure of 160. A stethoscope is placed on the artery on the inside of the elbow. No sound should be heard at this point. The pressure is released until a sound can be heard. The pressure this happens at is the Systolic Pressure. The pressure is released until no sound can be heard. The pressure this happens at is the Diastolic Pressure. The reading is given as the systolic pressure over diastolic e.g. 120/60.

What is systolic and diastolic pressure? Systolic pressure is the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the end of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are contracting. Diastolic pressure is the minimum pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle when the ventricles are filled with blood.

Healthy Blood Pressure SystolicDiastolic NormalLess than 120 higher than 90 Less than 80 Higher than 60 HYPOtension (low BP) Less than 90Less than 60 preHYPERtensionHigher than HYPERtension (high BP) 140 and above 90 and above

Low Blood Pressure Not a problem unless it causes: –Dizziness –Fainting –Shock You may get postural hypotension which is when you stand up too fast and your body does have time to adjust. You may feel momentarily faint after standing up from a sitting or lying position. Could be caused by major bleeding.

High Blood Pressure Risk factors for hypertension include: obesity, high cholesterol, smoking, drinking, potassium deficiency, stress and sedentary lifestyle. Hypertension is a risk factor for strokes, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. Can cause artery walls to produce abnormal tissue (atheroma) and thicken.