Blood Pressure Basics

Overview of Circulatory System: Arteries + Veins and Everything in Between Function of Circulatory System: To carry nutrients and hormones to tissues and wastes products away from tissues.

Path of Blood Flow

What is blood pressure? The pressure that your blood exerts against your arteries as it is pumped through your body by the heart The pressure in the arteries increases when the heart beats and decreases while it is resting http://www.cdc.gov/bloodpressure/about.htm

Measuring Blood Pressure The Sphygmomanometer The Sphygmomanometer is also called a Blood Pressure Cuff Pump Inflates the cuff to stop blood flow Dial Used to read blood pressure Valve Lets air out of the cuff, allowing it to deflate Cuff Used to temporarily stop blood flow http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/CM-106.jpg

Measuring Blood Pressure The Stethoscope A stethoscope allows you to hear your heart beat and your blood flow When used with a sphygmomanometer, you can hear the blood flow through your brachial artery, allowing you to measure your blood pressure http://wakemedvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/stethoscope.jpg

Measuring Blood Pressure Procedure Sit comfortably with arm supported at heart level Snugly wrap the sphygmomanometer cuff around the upper arm, one inch above the elbow Place the stethoscope just above the crease of the elbow Pump the cuff to around 180-200 mmHg While listening with the stethoscope, slowly open the valve to let the pressure fall When you first hear the beat of the blood flow, that is the systolic pressure When you last hear the beat of the blood flow, that is the diastolic pressure

Reading Blood Pressure Blood pressure is measured in mmHg, and given as a fraction 120 80 Systolic Pressure Pressure in the arteries while the heart beats Diastolic Pressure Pressure in the arteries while the heart rests

Systolic vs Diastolic Blood pressure is measured in mmHg (millimeters of mercury) and given as a fraction: systolic pressure / diastolic pressure The systolic pressure measures the force generated on the arterial walls by the contraction of the ventricles (left ventricle is what is actually being measured). Diastolic pressure measures the time after the ventricles contract and the chambers of the heart are refilling with blood. For most adults, systolic pressure is considered normal when measured below 120, with 120-139 being considered pre-hypertensive and above 140 being considered hypertensive. A diastolic pressure of less than 80 is considered healthy.

Variations in Blood Pressure Abnormally high blood pressure is called hypertension Any blood pressure reading greater than 140 90 is considered high. Hypertension is usually asymptomatic . Abnormally low blood pressure is called hypotension There is not a specific blood pressure value that is considered ‘low.’ Symptoms define whether blood pressure is too low: Dizziness Blurred vision Nausea Fatigue

Hypertension Caused by both hereditary and behavioral factors Diabetes High-sodium diets Smoking Age Genetic factors There are usually no symptoms of high blood pressure, but the consequences of untreated hypertension can be severe: Heart disease Heart failure Kidney failure General heart/artery damage

High blood pressure, 2014 (Canada) In 2014, 17.7% of Canadians aged 12 and older (5.3 million people) reported being diagnosed with high blood pressure. This was not a significant change from 2013, though it has been increasing since 2001 when it was 12.6%. From 2001 to 2009, females were more likely than males to report that they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure. However, since 2013, the rate of high blood pressure has been higher for males than females. Between 2010 and 2012, there was no difference between the sexes (Chart 1).

High blood pressure, 2014 (Canada)

Hypertension (High Heart Rate) 30% of people over 50 Damages arteries Causes heart failure, vascular disease, renal failure, stroke, and blindness. Enlargement filled by hypertrophy of the myocardium Contributing factors: Diet (sodium, saturated fat, cholesterol) Obesity Age Race Heredity Stress Smoking—nicotine is a vasoconstrictor.

Treatment Weight loss: If your child is overweight, your doctor might recommend and monitor an ongoing weight-loss program Dietary changes: The doctor might recommend that your child's diet include more vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy products, and fiber-rich foods, and fewer carbohydrates, fats, processed foods, and drinks with lots of sugar. The doctor also might recommend preparing low-sodium dishes and not adding salt to foods. Watch out for foods with lots of hidden salt (like bread, sandwiches, pizza, and many restaurant and fast food options). Quit smoking Medication (Beta blockers, diuretics, Vaso dilators, Angiotensin blockers, and many more) Reducing stress No Alcohol

Atherosclerosis (Build Up in the Arteries) Damage to the tunica interna Viral Bacterial Hypertension Reinjury Inflammation LDLs—”bad cholesterol” Foam cells Fatty streak stage Arteriosclerosis Hypertension Stroke Heart attack Coronary bypass Angioplasty tPA—tissue plasminogen activator Clot buster HDL—removes cholesterol from vessel walls.

Arteriosclerosis Arteriosclerosis is the thickening, hardening and loss of elasticity of the walls of arteries. is a sclerosis that only affects small arteries and arterioles, which carry important nutrients and blood to the cells. signs/symptoms of arteriosclerosis are: sudden weakness, facial or lower limbs numbness, confusion, difficulty understanding speech and problems seeing.