Understanding Heart Rate & Blood Pressure Knowing your numbers and what they mean

What is blood pressure? What should your blood pressure numbers be? What do you do if your blood pressure numbers are too high? What does your heart do? What is heart rate? What should your heart rate numbers be?

Your Heart It looks like an ice-cream cone! Pointed bottom Rounded top Hollow Can fill up with blood

MORE ABOUT YOUR HEART In middle of chest Between your lungs Size of fist Tipped over More on left side Is a muscle Acts like a pump http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/102441059502447%20What%20Is%20the%20Heart.pdf

Your heart sends blood to the whole body Oxygen Nutrients Heart Parts: Arteries Capillaries Veins The blood flows into tubes called arteries. Arteries that leave the heart are thick tubes. The biggest artery, called the aorta, is an inch wide. But the arteries soon branch again and again to form many smaller tubes. These blood vessels carry blood to all parts of the body. The farther from the heart, the more blood vessels there are, and the smaller they are. The tiniest blood vessels, called capillaries, are so small you would need a microscope to see them! Capillaries join to form larger blood vessels. These tubes carry blood back toward the heart. The bigger ones are called veins. The closer to the heart, the fewer veins there are and the larger they get. The largest veins empty blood into the heart. The blood vessels of the body carry blood in a circle: moving away from the heart in the arteries, traveling to various parts of the body in capillaries, and going back to the heart in veins. The blood provides your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs. It also carries away waste. So, as you can see, your heart is a very important part of your body! Your heart sends blood to the whole body Oxygen Nutrients Carries away waste

HEART RATE -the number of heartbeats per unit of time- beats per minute (bpm) -can vary as the body's need to absorb O2 and excrete CO2 changes, such as during exercise or sleep

HEART RATE -assists in the diagnosis & tracking of medical conditions -monitor heart rate in athletes to gain maximum efficiency from their training -measured by finding the pulse - at any point on thebody where an artery’s pulsation is transmitted to the surface -No thumb!! Use your middle and index

For Example…. The inside of the elbow Behind the knee Over the abdomen The chest (apex of the heart) The temple Neck Wrist

-Typical healthy Hrrest in adults is 60–80 bpm Resting heart rate -heart rate when they awake; lying down and not immediately post-exertion -Typical healthy Hrrest in adults is 60–80 bpm bradycardia-rates below 60 bpm tachycardia-rates above 100 bpm -conditioned athletes often have resting heart rates below 60 bpm. Q: What’s the deal with athletes? Lance Armstrong: Hrrest = 32 bpm

Blood Pressure Measurement Force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries Force Amount of blood Size Flexibility of the arteries http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003398.htm

3 Ways to Measure Blood Pressure Aneroid Monitor Blood pressure can be measured using different methods. Today, I am going to discuss three of these methods with you. The first way you could measure your blood pressure is to use an aneriod monitor. Most of us have probably had our blood pressured measured this way in the past. An aneroid monitor has a dial gauge that is read by looking at a pointer. The cuff is hand inflated by squeezing a rubber bulb, and heart sounds are heard through a stethoscope. Nowadays, we use digital monitors to read blood pressure. A digital monitor is easy to use, and it provides your results on a small screen. These types of monitors range in price from about $30 to over $100. Another blood pressure monitor on the market is the finger or wrist blood pressure monitor. These devices do not measure blood pressure very accurately. They are also extremely sensitive to position and body temperature and are also very expensive. Digital Monitor Finger/Wrist Monitor http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/128.html

Before Taking Your Blood Pressure… Don’t use 30 minutes prior to taking your blood pressure: Caffeine, Alcohol, or Tobacco. Go to the bathroom. Rest 3-5 minutes before taking your blood pressure. Sit comfortably. Legs and ankles uncrossed Back supported Let’s talk about the steps you need to take before you measure your blood pressure. Don't use caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco products 30 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Go to the bathroom before measuring your blood pressure. Rest for 3 to 5 minutes before measuring your blood pressure. Do not talk. Sit in a comfortable position, with your legs and ankles uncrossed and your back supported.

What Does Your Blood Pressure Reading Mean? Normal Less than 120 Less than 80 Pre-hypertension 120-139 80-89 High Blood Pressure – Stage 1 140-159 90 – 99 High Blood Pressure – Stage 2 160 or higher 100 or higher Normal blood pressure is 120/80 or lower. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 and 140/90, you have something called “pre-hypertension” (you are in the beginning stages and at risk of high blood pressure). Only your doctor can tell you whether you have high blood pressure. Most doctors will check your blood pressure several times on different days before deciding that you have high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure or pre-hypertension, you need to check your blood pressure regularly and keep in touch with your family doctor. As you can see – there are 2 stages of hypertension or high blood pressure. If you have diabetes or chronic kidney disease – there is an exception to these numbers. You are considered to have high blood pressure when your blood pressure reads 130/80. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/treatment/128.html http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbp/HBP_WhatIs.html

What Is Your Blood Pressure? Do you know your blood pressure numbers? (This would be a good opportunity to have participants take their blood pressure in class.) If your numbers are not where they should be, talk with your doctor! He/She will work with you to get your blood pressure in the right range! What Is Your Blood Pressure?