Blood Pressure

A.Blood pressure is the force of blood against the inner walls of blood vessels anywhere in the cardiovascular system, although the term “blood pressure” usually refers to arterial pressure.

Blood Pressure B.Blood pressure is measured by a pressure cuff (shut off brachial artery) and a sphygmomanometer for Korotkoff sounds (blood turbulence in arteries). C.Normal range is 120/80 systolic/diastolic (contraction/relaxation)

Blood Pressure Your blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first number, which is higher, is taken when the heart beats during the systole phase. The second number is taken when the heart relaxes during the diastole phase. Those two numbers stand for millimeters. A column of mercury rises and falls with the beat of the heart. The height of the column is measured in millimeters. Normal blood pressure ranges from 110 to 150 millimeters (as the heart beats) over 60 to 80 millimeters (as the heart relaxes). It is normal for your blood pressure to increase when you are exercising and to decrease when you are sleeping. If your blood pressure stays too high or too low, however, you may be at risk of heart disease.

Blood Pressure The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps out blood. The normal blood pressure is 120/ = systolic pressure, and 80 = diastolic pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the highest arterial pressure of the cardiac cycle, when the heart is pumping blood to the body Diastolic blood pressure is the lowest arterial blood pressure, when the heart is at rest.

CategorySystolic (top number) Diastolic (bottom number) NormalLess than 120AndLess than 80 Prehypertension120–139Or80–89 High blood pressure Stage 1140–159Or90–99 Stage 2160 or higherOr100 or higher

Watch the dial closely as it moves clockwise and then stop squeezing when it reaches 150. Remember to do a brisk squeeze of the bulb to ensure an accurate measurement Pay attention to the sound in your stethoscope. As you go on deflating the cuff, listen very carefully to the first sound in your stethoscope and get your eyes fixed on the pointer of the dial gauge as it falls counterclockwise. When you hear the first sound, you will also see the pointer of the dial gauge jerk slightly on a certain number at the same time. This number serves as the systolic pressure. Continue deflating the cuff and keep your eyes fixed on the dial gauge. The sound is still there until it stops. Now take note of the number to where the pointer is leveled, after hearing the last sound or the point where you stop hearing the heartbeat--this last sound will be the diastolic pressure.

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