Blood Pressure
Blood pressure (strictly speaking: vascular pressure) refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. On the other hand, arterial pressure is the type that indicates the level of pressure as blood traverses the arteries, arterioles, capillaries and veins and is the term most often associated with blood pressure; moreover, arterial pressure decreases as the bloods travels farther away from the heart.
Arterial pressure is most commonly measured via a sphygmomanometer, which uses the height of a column of mercury to reflect the circulating pressure (see Non-invasive measurement). While most modern blood pressure devices no longer contain mercury, pressure level values continue to be reported in millimeters of mercury, or mmHg. When measuring blood pressure, there are two types that are reported. Systolic arterial pressure is measured when the pressure is at its highest in the arteries of the body, and generally occurs at the beginning of the cardiac cycles. On the other hand, diastolic pressure refers to the pressure at its lowest level, and is noted between cardiac cycles or when the heart is in a momentary resting state. The average pressure throughout the cardiac cycle is reported as mean arterial pressure and the pulse pressure reflects the difference between the maximum and minimum pressures measured.
For a healthy adult in a rested state, normal blood pressure levels are 120 mmHg (16 kPa) for the systolic reading and 80 mmHg (11kPa) for the diastolic pressure. This is normally written as 120/80 mmHg and is spoken as “one hundred twenty over eighty”. Although the 120/80 mmHg is a common benchmark, normal readings vary widely depending on the health and overall fitness of the individual. The measure of your arterial blood pressure can change as often as the heart beats, and your blood pressure may vary at different times of the day. Fluctuations in your arterial blood pressure and are usually not cause for great concern – unless there are particularly large differences. Some common factors that may affect your arterial blood pressure levels are: diet, drugs and alcohol, fitness and even stress.
If your arterial blood pressure is too high, the condition is known as hypertension. On the other hand, if your pressure levels are too low, the condition is known as hypotension. The only basic health test performed more than a blood pressure check is the measuring of the body’s temperature with a thermometer.
Your good health should be your most prized asset and if you have a blood pressure concern, seek out all the guidance you can find. Don’t be afraid to take professional advice and have a chat with your doctor about your blood pressure concerns. Weigh up your findings and work on maintaining a healthy blood pressure level and maintaining good health.
For the most thorough and up to date information on blood pressure levels, arterial pressure monitoring and other useful information, use reliable specialist sites dealing with blood pressure issues.
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