1. Measuring Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is indicates your heart health
It is determined by the contractions of the heart
Your pressure varies depending on the condition of your heart and blood vessels
Pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg)

2. What is Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is the force that blood exerts against blood vessel walls.
The pumping action of the heart generates the flow
Pressure occurs when the flow is met by resistance from blood vessel walls

3. Laminar Flow
Blood flows faster in the center of a blood vessel, because the blood near the sides are hitting the walls of the vessels.
Is caused by the friction (resistance) between the blood and the vessel walls.

4. Blood Pressure Graph
Pulse Pressure
Systolic
Dicrotic Notch
Diastolic
Average Pressure
By taking your pulse, you can feel that blood pressure fluctuation with each heartbeat.
The pulse which you feel is actually a pressure wave that travels from your heart though your arteries

5. Systolic Pressure
Systolic pressure is the maximum pressure exerted by the blood against the artery walls.
It results when the ventricles contract.
Normally, it measures 120 mm Hg.
Systolic

6. Dicrotic Notch
The Dicrotic Notch represents the interruption of blood flow due to the brief backflow of blood that closes the aortic semilunar valve when the ventricles relax.
Dicrotic Notch

7. Diastolic Pressure
Diastolic Pressure is the lowest pressure in the artery.
It result when the ventricles are relaxed and is usually around 80 mm Hg.
Diastolic

8. Blood Pressure Sounds
A cuff is inflated to constrict an artery so that no blood flows.
As the cuff pressure is slowly released, but the artery is still partially constricted, blood flow begins again.
Sounds can be heard because the blood flows violently causing audible sounds.
When the artery is fully open, the blood flows freely and the sounds disappear.

9. Checking Blood Pressure
The first sounds that are heard indicate systolic pressure (top number).
When the sounds stop, diastolic pressure has been reached (bottom number).
Average blood pressure is:
120 80