When you visit your health care provider, a blood pressure measurement is one of the most important routine tests you’ll have. Show
Blood pressure is the force exerted by your blood against your arteries. As your heart pumps, it forces blood out through arteries that carry the blood throughout your body. The arteries keep tapering off in size until they become tiny vessels, called capillaries. At the capillary level, oxygen and nutrients are released from your blood and delivered to the organs. Types of Blood Pressure There are two types of blood pressure: Systolic blood pressure refers to the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is pumping; diastolic pressure is the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between beats. When your arteries are healthy and dilated, blood flows easily and your heart doesn't have to work too hard. But when your arteries are too narrow or stiff, blood pressure rises, the heart gets overworked, and arteries can become damaged. Measuring Blood Pressure Blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer. First, a cuff is placed around your arm and inflated with a pump until the circulation is cut off. A small valve slowly deflates the cuff, and the doctor measuring blood pressure uses a stethoscope, placed over your arm, to listen for the sound of blood pulsing through the arteries. That first sound of rushing blood refers to the systolic blood pressure; once the sound fades, the second number indicates the diastolic pressure, the blood pressure of your heart at rest. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and recorded with the systolic number first, followed by the diastolic number. For example, a normal blood pressure would be recorded as something under 120/80 mm Hg. Blood pressure readings can be affected by factors like:
Blood pressure is also affected by your emotional state and the time of day. Since so many factors can affect blood pressure readings, you should have your blood pressure taken several times to get an accurate measurement. What Is Normal Blood Pressure? Experts consider normal blood pressure to be less than 120/80 mm Hg. Based on population data, about 42 percent of American adults have normal blood pressure. At one point, blood pressure at or above 120/80 and less than 140/90 was considered normal to high; these numbers are now considered pre-hypertensive. Blood pressure consistently at or above 140/90 is considered high blood pressure or hypertension. Blood pressure normally rises as you age and grow. Normal blood pressure readings for children are lower than for adults, while blood pressure measurements for adults and older teenagers are similar. Blood pressure can also be too low, a condition called hypotension. Hypotension refers to blood pressure lower than 90/60. Symptoms of hypotension include dizziness, fainting, and sometimes shock. Checking Blood Pressure at Home Many people can learn to check their blood pressure at home. You can buy blood pressure kits that use the cuffs or electronic digital technology at your pharmacy, a medical supply store, or an online retailer. Since high blood pressure can exist without any symptoms, it is important to know your numbers. High blood pressure can cause stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure. Getting your blood pressure checked is quick, painless, and one of the most important things you can do to better your health. A blood pressure test checks if your blood pressure is healthy, or if it's high or low. Blood pressure is the term used to describe the strength with which your blood pushes on the sides of your arteries as it's pumped around your body. Low blood pressure (hypotension) is not usually
a problem, although it can cause dizziness and fainting in some people. High blood pressure (hypertension) can increase your risk of developing serious problems, such as heart attacks and strokes, if it's not treated. Having this quick test is the only way to find out what your blood pressure is – and it could save your life. You should have a blood pressure test if you're worried about your blood pressure at any time. If you're over 40, you can have this test done as part of an
NHS Health Check, which is offered to adults in England aged 40 to 74 every 5 years. If you have been diagnosed with high or low blood pressure, or you have a high risk of developing either, you may need more frequent checks of your blood pressure. You can get your blood pressure tested at a number of places, including:
How blood pressure is testedBlood pressure machines vary, but they're all a type of measuring device, which often have an arm cuff attached to it. The cuff is usually wrapped around your upper arm and filled with air until it feels tight. This can feel uncomfortable but it only lasts a few seconds. It's important to relax and not talk during this time, because this is when your blood pressure is measured. If a healthcare professional is doing this for you, they may also use a stethoscope to record your blood pressure. An automatic device usually picks up the measurements from sensors in the arm cuff, which are sent to a digital display. You should get the results straight away. Understanding your blood pressure readingBlood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) and is given as 2 numbers:
The highest number is always the systolic pressure and it's always given first. For example, a blood pressure given as "120 over 80" or 120/80mmHg means a systolic pressure of 120mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80mmHg. As a general guide:
If your reading is between 120/80mmHg and 140/90mmHg, you may be at risk of developing high blood pressure. There are things you can do to help prevent high blood pressure. Testing your blood pressure at homeYour GP may suggest 24-hour or ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) if they think you may have high blood pressure (hypertension). ABPM tests your blood pressure regularly over 24 hours, by using a cuff attached to a portable device that's worn on your waist. You can continue with your daily activities during this time. If you want to regularly check your blood pressure at home, you can buy a machine. Blood pressure devices for home useIf you want to check your blood pressure regularly at home, you can buy a digital blood pressure machine. Choose a machine that measures your blood pressure at your upper arm, not your wrist or finger. Let your GP know you're doing this. Page last reviewed: 08 November 2021 How do you know when to record the systolic blood pressure?Let the pressure fall 2 millimeters, or lines on the dial, per second while listening for your heart sounds. Note the reading when you first hear a heartbeat. This is your systolic pressure. Note when you no longer hear the beating sounds.
How do you measure systolic blood pressure?Your provider will then open a valve on the cuff to slowly release air from it. As the cuff deflates, blood pressure will fall. As the pressure falls, a measurement is taken when the sound of blood pulsing is first heard. This is the systolic pressure.
When taking a blood pressure the systolic pressure is?The first number, called systolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in your arteries when your heart rests between beats.
How do you determine systolic and diastolic blood pressure?As the cuff deflates, the first sound they hear through the stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds like a whooshing noise. The point where this noise goes away marks the diastolic blood pressure. In a blood pressure reading, the systolic number always comes first, and then the diastolic number.
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When measuring blood pressure, how do you know when to record the systolic blood pressure?
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