blood pressure was elevated, unless it was measured. High blood pressure is sometimes referred to as the silent killer. Stress is not automatically linked to the high blood pressure patient. Many people with high blood pressure are perfectly calm and relaxed.
Unfortunately, the often late-recognized symptoms of high blood pressure are complications of angina, stroke and heart failure. With early detection, lifestyle changes and medication can control blood pressure very well.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood is carried from the heart to all parts of your body in the vessels called arteries. The term “blood pressure” is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of those arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries.
Your blood pressure, or BP, is at its highest each time the heart contracts (beats), since that is when it is pumping blood. This is called systolic pressure. When the heart is at rest between beats the pressure inside the arteries decreases. That is diastolic pressure. Blood pressure is determined by the amount of blood your heart pumps and the amount of resistance to blood flow in your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries, the higher your blood pressure.
Blood pressure is given as two numbers, the systolic and diastolic pressures, respectively. Both are important, but can relay vastly different information. When the two measurements are written down, the systolic pressure is the first or top number and the diastolic pressure is the second or bottom number. If your systolic (pumping) is 120 and your diastolic (resting) is 80, it would be written120/80 and spoken “120 over 80.”
Blood pressure will change during the day. It is usually lowest when you are asleep and will rise when you wake up and start your day. It can also rise when you are excited, nervous or exercising.
Surprisingly, for most of your waking hours, your blood pressure stays pretty consistent when you are sitting or standing still. A healthy blood pressure reading should be lower than 120/80. When your blood pressure reading remains high, 140/90 or higher, you are said to have high blood pressure. With high blood pressure, the heart must work harder, added stress is put on your arteries and you are at increased risk of stroke, heart attack and other medical problems.
The digital BP monitor has a built-in pump which
inflates the cuff. The blood pressure is shown on the digital display. The following steps will be helpful when taking a blood pressure digitally. Let’s assume the patient is male.
• Sit or lie the patient down.
• Place the cuff around his wrist, securing it snugly. The monitor will specify which wrist it is programmed for.
• Turn the monitor on and have the patient bend his arm, holding it still and next to his heart.
• The cuff will begin inflating and squeezing the patient’s wrist. When it is finished, you will hear it deflate and the pressure will be released. You should then have your reading displayed.
A sphygmomanometer is a device for measuring blood pressure. It is made up of an inflatable cuff, a bulb to inflate the cuff and a gauge which shows the blood pressure. The stethoscope has 2 earpieces, tubing and a diaphragm which amplifies sounds from the body. BP cuffs come in several different sizes for the different sizes of arms. Ensure you are using an appropriate size for your patient. The following steps will be helpful when auscultating (hearing) a blood pressure.
• Sit or lie the patient down with his arm straight and at the level of his heart.
• Place the cuff about 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the patient’s elbow, securing it snugly.
• Put the earpieces in your ears. Central Nervous System 57
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