Blood Pressure

Blood is transported from the heart to all parts of your body and organs in vessels called arteries. Arterial pressure is the force of the blood which presses on the walls of arteries. With each heart beat (about 60-70 beats per minute in adults at rest), it pumps blood through the artery. Blood pressure (arteriotony) at the highest level when the heart beats pumping the blood. It is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest between beats, your blood pressure drops. It is diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure is always given as these two numbers, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Both are important. As a rule they are written one above or before the other, for instance 120/80 mmHg. When two values are recorded the systolic pressure is the first or top number, and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number. If the blood pressure is 120/80, you say that it is «120 over 80».

The blood pressure varies throughout the day. It lowers during sleep and rises when you wake up. It also can rise when you are emotional, nervous, or active.

The body is very sensitive to changes in arterial pressure. There are baroreceptors the special cells in the arteries, which are sensitive to raising and lowering of piesis. When the baroreceptors sense the increase or decrease in blood pressure, they cause some responses to befall throughout the body trying to bring the pressure back to normal.

For instance, if you get up quickly, baroreceptors will feel the fall in your blood pressure. They quickly take the necessary action to ensure that blood continues to flow to and important organs - the brain, kidneys, and other. Baroreceptors make your heart beat faster and harder. They also make small arteries (arterioles) and veins (carrying blood to the heart) to narrow.

Most forms of hypotension occurs when the body can not bring pressure to normal or can not do it fast enough.

Hypotension in a healthy person with no signs or symptoms is usually not a problem and does not require any treatment. Doctors will want to identify and treat any underlying conditions causing the hypotension if one can be found. Hypotension can be dangerous if a person falls because of dizziness or fainting.

The shock is a severe form of hypotension, a life-threatening condition that often leads to death if not treated immediately. If the cause can be found and the right treatment provided in time, the shock can be successfully treated.

Hypertension is the term describing high blood pressure. Systolic pressure is considered high if it is consistently over 140, and diastolic pressure is considered high if it is consistently over 90. One or both of these values may be too high. Pre-hypertension is a condition when the systolic blood pressure is from 120 to 139 or diastolic blood pressure is ranged from 80 to 89 in several readings. If you have pre-hypertension, you are more likely to develop HBP (hypertension, high blood pressure).

To measure blood pressure at home, you can use either an aneroid monitor or a digital monitor. Aneroid monitor has a dial scale that is read by looking at a pointer. The cuff is swollen by hand, squeezing a rubber bulb. Digital monitors have either manual or automatic cuffs. Arteriotony reading flashes on a small screen. Choose the type and model of monitor that best suits your needs.