BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood Pressure

Definition:
 The
measurement of the force exerted by the heart
against the arterial walls when the heart contracts and
relaxes.
 1.
Force comes from the pumping of the heart
 2. If arteries are hardened or narrowed, this force might be
increased to pump the blood throughout the body
How do we measure

Done by listening for two sounds with a stethoscope
 First:
sound = systolic
 Second: change in sound = diastolic
Units



Millimeters of mercury
Top number = systolic
Bottom number = diastolic
 Systolic/diastolic
 120/80
mm Hg
Blood Pressure Values

Hypotensive: less than 100/60 mm Hg
Dizziness, light-headedness, faint
 No signs and symptoms
 Factors: Rx, level of physical fitness, illness, injury


Hypertensive: greater than 140/90 mm Hg
Silent killer – no symptoms
 Signs: headache, pressure in head, ringing in ears, general
feeling of malaise
 Continued increase – Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
 Factors: overweight, emotional upset, family history, high
NaCl diet, pain, illness, Rx

AHA Recommendation

High blood pressure >140/90 mm Hg
Blood Pressure
(mm Hg)
Normal
Prehypertension
Hypertension
Systolic
Less than 120
120-139
140+
Diastolic
Less than 80
80-89
90+
Blood Pressure
Category
Normal
Systolic
mm Hg (upper #)
Diastolic
mm Hg (lower #)
less than 120
and
less than 80
Prehypertension
120 – 139
or
80 – 89
High Blood Pressure
(Hypertension) Stage 1
140 – 159
or
90 – 99
High Blood Pressure
(Hypertension) Stage 2
160 or higher
or
100 or higher
Hypertensive Crisis
(Emergency care
needed)
Higher than 180
or
Higher than 110
Risk




High Blood pressure directly increases the risk of
coronary heart disease lead to ________________
and _______________.
Occurs in children or adults
Prevalent in AA, middle-aged, elderly, obese,
heavy drinkers
Diabetes, gout or kidney disease more often