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
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