Blood Pressure

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE To know what High Blood Pressure is, we need to know what Blood Pressure is. What then is Blood Pressure?

BLOOD PRESSURE Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on the walls of the blood vessels by the blood circulating in the body. The level of pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries is one way of indicating the health of the human system. Once the arteries’ elasticity is affected, contrasted or there is interference in the ability of the heart to pump blood, the possibility of such affecting the blood pressure is high. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). In taking the measurement, two numbers are given: the top number and the bottom number. The top number measures the systolic pressure while the bottom number measures the diastolic pressure. Systolic pressure measures the blood pressure when the heart contract to pump blood into the circulatory system while the diastolic pressure measures the blood pressure when the heart relaxes and thereby gets filled with blood. The nervous system is a complex mechanism which possesses the ability to balance the rate at which blood flows. To be seen as healthy, blood pressure must be within a specific average. If it goes beyond this average, it is seen as high blood pressure. Abnormally high blood pressure often occurs when, for one reason or the other, the blood vessels lose their flexibility or are forced to contract. This makes the heart to work overtime in order to pump blood into the system through the contracted vessels. Thus, there is High Blood Pressure. If this goes on unchecked, it may result in having effects on organs such as the liver, kidney or brain and may lead to death from heart failure, stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.

MEASURING BLOOD PRESSURE To measure the Blood pressure, an instrument known as Sphygmomanometer is used. This is a combination of an instrument known as manometer, a rubber bulb, a cuff having a rubber bag attached on the inside. The cuff is placed above the elbow while inflating the rubber bag to cut off the artery so no pressure is exerted on the wrist and no pulse is felt there. After the pressure has been cut off, the blood pressure is then taken using a stethoscope showing the systolic blood pressure. Once this has been completed, the cuff is gradually deflated until blood begins to gradually circulate in the artery which has been denied of blood flow. Once everything relaxes, the diastolic pressure is taken. This means two measurements are taken: one when the heart contract to let out blood (systolic pressure) and the other when the heart relaxes to be filled with blood (diastolic pressure).

CLASSIFICATION OF BLOOD PRESSURE Normal Blood Pressure: This is when the blood pressure in an adult is measured and found to be below 120/80 mm Hg

Prehypertension Blood Pressure: This is when the Blood Pressure in an adult is taken and found to be between 120 and 139 mm Hg for the systolic pressure and the diastolic pressure is between 80 to 89 mm Hg.

Stage 1 Hypertension Blood Pressure: Here, the systolic blood pressure in an adult ranges from ranges from 140 to 159 mm Hg and the diastolic pressure is between 90 to 99 mmHg.

Stage 2 Hypertension Blood Pressure: Any blood pressure reading above the one for Stage 1 Hypertension Blood Pressure is classified as Stage 2 Hypertension Blood Pressure.