What is Blood Pressure.
Blood Pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries during its flow through the arteries. Normal Blood Pressures ranges depend on whether the heart is contracting or expanding.
When the heart is contracting, the blood is being pumped out of the heart and therefore the pressure will naturally be higher than when it is expanding and the blood is passively entering the heart.
Normal Blood Pressure Readings.
The Normal Blood Pressure Range of the systolic pressure is 100 to 140 mm of hg and the Blood Pressure Range of the diastolic pressure is 60 to 90 mm of hg (Hg stands for mercury which is used in the standard blood pressure instrument). Blood Pressure ranges therefore from the higher side of the normal to lower side of the normal. Blood Pressure within this range is considered a Good Blood Pressure or a Healthy Blood Pressure. It is important to have and maintain your average blood pressure within these normal blood pressure levels.
Systolic Blood Pressure.
The blood pressure which is higher at the time of contraction of the heart is called the systolic blood pressure. This is the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries.
Diastolic Blood Pressure.
The blood pressure which is lower at the time of the relaxation of the heart is called the diastolic blood pressure. This indicates the pressure against which the heart has to pump blood.
How to Measure Blood Pressure|How to Take Blood Pressure.
The blood pressure is measured by placing the stethoscope on the inner and front side of the elbow, where the brachial artery is situated, and with help of the blood pressure machine called the sphygmomanometer. Digital blood pressure monitors are also available.
Picture of Measuring Blood pressure
Many a time, due to various reasons the systolic or the diastolic pressure may increase or decrease and cause certain complications which may be serious and even lethal. It is therefore necessary to have your blood pressure checked regularly especially after the age of 35 years or earlier.
Systolic Pressure above 140mm hg or diastolic above 90mm hg indicates a rise in the pressure and is called hypertension. Fall in blood pressure below the normal level is called hypo tension. Both these conditions when diagnosed, have to be treated consciously.
Why maintain Regular Blood Pressure.
High blood pressure if undiagnosed may increase to a point where it can cause serious complications like chronic heart disease, heart stroke, kidney failure, brain stroke leading to paralysis, among other things. High blood pressure can also be found in people of younger age groups.
High pressure can be due to some pathological reason like kidney disease or a tumor or it may occur without any cause or reason. High B.P. which occurs without any reason is called essential hypertension.
Low blood pressure occurs due to some other illness and can be an indication of some life threatening illness. Low Blood Pressure is called Hypotension.
Blood Pressure Chart.
Many Blood Pressure Charts are available which give a picture of the normal, high and low Blood Pressure Ranges. The following Blood Pressure Chart gives a comprehensive idea of various blood pressure readings.
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