Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts; diastolic pressure occurs when the heart expands.
Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
Hypertension is the diagnosis given when readings consistently rise above
normal.
Hypertension is the most under treated cardiovascular condition in the U.S., affecting roughly 20% of the population - over 50 Million people. It can lead to heart disease, strokes and other serious conditions. Yet according to recent studies, only 27% of those with hypertension are adequately controlled, leaving 37 Million people at risk. Referred to as the "silent killer" because it often has no symptoms, it can be treated if diagnosed early.
The benefits of monitoring your blood pressure at home. If you're trying to lower your blood pressure by dieting or medication, you may be encouraged by frequent evidence that you're succeeding. Some medications require monitoring to minimize side effects. Also, taking blood pressure at home helps distinguish patients who genuinely have high blood pressure from those who have "white coat" hypertension, that is, the artificial heightening of a patient's blood pressure while he or she is in the unfamiliar environment of a doctor's office or hospital. If white-coat hypertension is suspected, home monitoring is especially important in order to avoid unnecessary drug treatments.
What's it all about?
When a blood-pressure cuff is placed around a patient's arm and inflated,
circulation in the artery is temporarily blocked. Then, air is let out of the
cuff and the sounds of rushing blood inside the artery are monitored with a
stethoscope. When the first sound is heard, the blood pressure gauge is
checked for the systolic, or top, number. This is the pumping pressure. When
the sounds disappear, there's the diastolic pressure, or lower number. This
is the pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes between beats. Both
numbers are important. The higher the number, the harder it is for the blood
to flow. A reading above 140/90 indicates hypertension or high blood
pressure. It is a sign the heart is working too hard to get blood through the
circulatory system because of narrow and/or inflexible arteries.
