Blood+Pressure

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Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against walls of the arteries. A blood pressure reading contains two different numbers (top and bottom) measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) signifying the two different types of pressure: **systolic** (top) and **diastolic** (bottom). Systolic pressure is the pressure when the ventricles are contracting, and diastolic pressure is the pressure when the ventricles are filled with blood, or when the heart is relaxing. Because blood pressure is highest when the heart beats to pump blood, the systolic number is higher. Likewise, blood pressure is lowest between between beats when the heart is at rest, so the diastolic is the lowest number of the two.

The average systolic blood pressure is 120 mm Hg, while the average diastolic pressure is 80 mm Hg. High blood pressure (hypertension) occurs when blood pressure levels are significantly above this normal range (at or above 140 over 90). It is important to monitor blood pressure because it is a good indication of how healthy a patient is. Depending on how high blood pressure is can also indicate his or her cardiac risk or possibility of kidney failure. Also, hypertension is often not accompanied by any symptoms, so many people do not even known they have high blood pressure unless they are checked regularly.

As many as **60 million** Americans have high blood pressure (about 1/4 of adults 18 and older).
 * Uncontrolled high blood pressure is indirectly responsible for many deaths and disability resulting from heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.
 * According to research studies, the risk of dying of a heart attack is **directly** linked to blood pressure, especially systolic hypertension. The higher your blood pressure, the higher your risk, even with blood pressure in the normal range.

For more information on blood pressure: http://blood-pressure.emedtv.com/high-blood-pressure-video/what-is-blood-pressure.html

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 * To take blood pressure:**
 * 1) Have the patient sit with his/her arm just about level with the heart with arm stretched out and facing upwards.
 * 2) Wrap the sphygmomanometer cuff around his/her bare arm.
 * 3) Find the pulse (should be just above the inside crease of the elbow) and place the head of the stethoscope there.
 * 4) Make sure the bladder of the cuff is deflated and put the ear pieces of the stethoscope in your ears.
 * 5) Inflate the cuff by pumping the bulb until the gauge reaches approximately 160-170. This will clamp the brachial artery so that blood cannot flow through.
 * 6) Slowly release air from the cuff by gently twisting the pump's valve.
 * 7) As you do this, watch the gage and listen for the first beat (systolic reading) and the last beat (diastolic reading). The number the gage was at for the first and last audible beats indicate the systolic and diastolic pressure.
 * 8) Release the rest of the air and unwrap the cuff.
 * 9) Record blood pressure reading.


 * High Blood Pressure can be caused by these factors:**
 * Stress
 * Heavy Alcohol Consumption
 * Smoking
 * Poor Diet
 * Lack of exercise
 * Obesity
 * Diabetes
 * Race
 * Heredity
 * Increasing Age
 * Renal Stenosis
 * Pheochromocytoma (tumor in the adrenal grand)
 * Pregnancy
 * Thyroid dysfunction
 * [[image:high_blood_pressure.jpg width="442" height="339" align="center"]]

Categories for Blood Pressure Levels in Adults (in mmHg, or millimeters of mercury)
(top number) ||~  ||~ Diastolic (bottom number) ||
 * ~ Category ||~ Systolic
 * ~ Normal || Less than 120 || //And// || Less than 80 ||
 * ~ Prehypertension || 120–139 || //Or// || 80–89 ||
 * ~ High blood pressure ||  ||   ||   ||
 * ~ Stage 1 || 140–159 || //Or// || 90–99 ||
 * ~ Stage 2 || 160 or higher || //Or// || 100 or higher ||

=Blood Pressure Guidelines=

Drugs for compelling indications* || Thiazide diuretic for most people May also consider other blood pressure drugs alone or in combination Drugs for compelling indications* ||
 * ~ Category ||~ Systolic BP (mm Hg) ||~ Diastolic BP (mm Hg) ||~ Treatment recommendations ||
 * **Normal** || Less than 120 || Less than 80 || Lifestyle changes encouraged ||
 * **Prehypertension** || 120–139 || 80–89 || Lifestyle changes necessary
 * **Stage 1 hypertension** || 140–159 || 90–99 || Lifestyle changes necessary
 * **Stage 2 hypertension** || 160 or higher || 100 or higher || Lifestyle changes necessary ||



 **Human Blood Pressure Range Diagram** In order to compare your blood pressure with the chart above, find the points of your systolic and diasolic pressures, and draw a line between them. Compare the slope to the slopes on the graph and observe the region in which it belongs. React to any information given that shows possible health problems. Remember, normal blood pressure varies daily and varies for each person, so using an average of your own blood pressures over a period of time will give you the closest values to your personal norm.