How is a person's blood pressure measured? Blood pressure: what is considered normal, how to measure it, what to do if it is high and low? Blood pressure in children

Blood pressure parameters are the sum of two numbers. The upper one is called the systolic value, and the lower one is called the diastolic value. Each of them is consistent with a certain norm, depending on the age category of the person. Like any physical phenomenon, the force of the blood flow pressing on the muscle layer of blood vessels can be measured. These indicators are recorded using a scale with divisions on the pressure gauge. The marks on the dial correspond to a certain measure of calculation. In what units is blood pressure measured? To answer this question, we need to look at the history of the first tonometers.

Pressure is a physical quantity. It must be understood as a certain force that acts on a certain area of ​​​​a certain area at a right angle. This value is calculated according to the International System of Units in pascals. One pascal is the effect of a perpendicularly directed force of one newton per square meter of surface. However, when using a tonometer, different units are used. How is blood pressure measured in blood vessels?

The readings on the scale of a mechanical pressure gauge are limited to digital values ​​from 20 to 300. There are 10 divisions between adjacent numbers. Each of them corresponds to 2 mm Hg. Art. Millimeters of mercury are the units for measuring blood pressure. Why is this particular measure used?

The first sphygmomanometer (“sphygmo” means “pulse”) was mercury. He studied the force of blood pressing on blood vessels using a column of mercury. The substance was placed inside a vertical flask, graduated with millimeter notches. Under the pressure of the air flow pumped by a rubber bulb into a hollow, inelastic cuff, the mercury rose to a certain level. Then the air was gradually released, and the column in the flask descended. Its position was recorded twice: when the first tones were heard, and when the last pulsations disappeared.

Modern tonometers have been working for a long time without the use of a dangerous substance, but blood pressure is measured traditionally, in millimeters of mercury, to this day.

What do the numbers determined by the tonometer mean?

The blood pressure value is represented by two numbers. How to decrypt them? The first, or top, reading is called systolic. The second (lower) is diastolic.

Systolic pressure is always higher and indicates the force with which the heart pumps blood from its chambers into the arteries. Occurs at the time of myocardial contraction and is responsible for the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the organs.

The diastolic value is equal to the resistance force of the peripheral capillaries. It is formed when the heart is in the most relaxed state. The force of the vascular walls acting on red blood cells allows them to return to the heart muscle. The force of capillaries pressing on the blood flow, which occurs during diastole (rest of the heart), largely depends on the functioning of the urinary system. Therefore, this effect is often called renal.

When measuring blood pressure, both parameters are very important; together they ensure normal blood circulation in the body. To ensure that this process is not disrupted, the tonometer values ​​must always be within acceptable limits. For systolic (heart) pressure, the generally accepted norm is 120 mmHg. Art., and for diastolic (renal) – 70 mm Hg. Art. Minor deviations in one direction or another are not recognized as pathology.

Normal pressure limits:

  1. Slightly underestimated: 100/65-119/69.
  2. Standard rate: 120/70-129/84.
  3. Slightly high: 130/85-139/89.

If the tonometer produces an even lower value (than in point one), this indicates hypotension. If the numbers are persistently elevated (above 140/90), a diagnosis of hypertension is made.

Based on the identified pressure parameters, the disease can belong to one of three degrees:

  1. 140/90-159/99 are 1st degree values.
  2. 160/100-179/109 – 2nd degree indications.
  3. Anything above 180/110 is already the 3rd degree of the disease.

The easiest of them is considered to be the first degree. With timely treatment and compliance with all doctor’s recommendations, it is cured. The third poses the greatest danger; it requires constant use of special pills and threatens human life.

Blood pressure indicators: depending on age

Standard figures are averages. They are not very often found in their generally accepted form. The tonometer values ​​of a healthy person constantly fluctuate because the conditions of his life, physical well-being and mental state change. But these fluctuations are insignificant for the full functioning of the body.

Indicators of pressure in the arteries also depend on what age category the man or woman belongs to. From the newborn period to old age, the needles of the measuring instrument tend to show increasingly higher numbers.

Table: norms of systolic and diastolic pressure corresponding to a certain age and gender.

Number of years0-1 1-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90
Systolic
indicators,
women
95 103 116 120 127 137 144 159 157 150
Diastolic
indicators,
women
65 70 72 75 80 84 85 85 83 79
Systolic
options,
male
96 103 123 126 129 135 142 145 147 145
Diastolic
indicators,
male
66 69 76 79 81 83 85 82 72 78

As can be seen from the table, gender also matters. It has been noted that women under 40 years of age have lower blood pressure than men. After this age, the opposite phenomenon occurs. This difference is explained by the action of specific hormones that maintain the good condition of the circulatory system of the fair sex during the childbearing period. With the onset of menopause, hormonal levels change, and vascular protection weakens.

The parameters of measured pressure in older people also differ from the generally accepted norm. They are usually taller. But at the same time, people feel good about these indicators. The human body is a self-regulating system, and therefore a forced reduction in the usual values ​​can often lead to deterioration in health. Vessels in old age are often affected by atherosclerosis, and in order to fully supply the organs with blood, the pressure must be increased.

You can often hear a combination such as “working pressure”. This is not synonymous with the norm, simply due to physiological characteristics, age, gender and health status, each person requires “their own” indicators. With them, the body’s vital functions proceed in optimal conditions, and a woman or man feels cheerful and active. The ideal option is when the “working pressure” coincides with generally accepted standards or does not differ much from them.

To determine the optimal tonometer indicators, depending on age and weight, you can use special calculations called the Volynsky formula:

  • 109+(0.5 *number of years)+(0.1*weight taken in kg) – systolic value;
  • 63+(0.1*years lived)+(0.15*weight in kg) – diastolic parameters.

It is advisable to carry out such calculations for people from 17 to 79 years old.

People have been trying to measure blood pressure since ancient times. In 1773, Stephen Hales, an Englishman, attempted to study the pulsation of blood in the artery of a horse. The glass test tube was connected through a metal tube directly to the vessel clamped with a rope. When the clamp was removed, the blood entering the flask reflected pulse fluctuations. She moved up and down. So the scientist was able to measure blood pressure in different animals. For this purpose, peripheral veins and arteries were used, including the pulmonary one.

In 1928, the French scientist Jean Louis Marie Poiseuille first used a device that showed the level of pressure using a mercury column. The measurement was still carried out directly. Experiments were carried out on animals.

Karl von Vierordt invented the sphygmomgraph in 1855. This device did not require direct insertion into the vessel. It was used to measure the force that had to be applied to completely stop the movement of blood through the radial artery.

In 1856, surgeon Favre, for the first time in the history of medicine, measured blood pressure in a person using an invasive method. He also used a mercury device.

The Italian doctor S. Riva-Rocci invented a pressure meter in 1896, which became the progenitor of modern mechanical tonometers. It included a bicycle splint to tighten the upper arm. The tire was attached to a pressure gauge that used mercury to record the results. A kind of cuff also communicated with a rubber bulb, which was supposed to fill the tire with air. When the pulse in the arm was no longer palpable, the systolic pressure was recorded. After the resumption of pulsating impulses, the diastolic value was noted.

1905 is a significant date in the history of the creation of tonometers. N. S. Korotkov, a military physician, improved the principle of operation of the Riva-Rocci sphygmomanometer. He was responsible for the discovery of the auscultatory method of measuring blood pressure. The essence of it was to use a special device to listen to noise effects occurring inside the artery just below the cuff compressing the shoulder. The appearance of the first knocks when air was bled indicated the systolic value, the resulting silence marked the diastolic pressure.

The discovery of the existence of blood pressure in humans, as well as the discoveries of scientists in the field of its measurement, have significantly advanced the development of medicine. The values ​​of systolic and diastolic indicators will help an experienced doctor understand a lot about the patient’s health status. That is why the first tonometers contributed to the improvement of diagnostic methods, which inevitably increased the effectiveness of therapeutic measures.

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Methods for measuring blood pressure: advantages and disadvantages

One of the most important indicators of the state of the body for every person is blood pressure. It is the pressure that reflects the correct functioning of the cardiovascular system. However, in order to detect changes in pressure and prevent the development of serious diseases, it is necessary to constantly monitor and correctly measure blood pressure levels.

Normal human blood pressure

Each person has completely different indicators of normal blood pressure.

Normal blood pressure ranges from 100/50 to 140/50 millimeters of mercury.

For an adult, 110/70-120/60 millimeters of mercury is considered the most optimal. A person whose blood pressure is at the level of 140/50 is most susceptible to developing hypertension, and who has blood pressure below 100/80 mmHg - hypotension.

Despite the standard human pressure, there is also such a thing as “adaptation pressure.” It means that a person can feel good only under a certain pressure. And deviations from such pressure in a positive or negative direction, on the contrary, worsen well-being. These blood pressure indicators can be considered both normal and abnormal. For example, the usual average value for a hypotensive person is 105/60 millimeters of mercury, and if the value increases, the state of health deteriorates sharply.

If the pressure numbers begin to decrease, then it is clearly expressed:

  • Weakness.
  • Loss of consciousness.

Based on this, we can conclude that changes in well-being are possible regardless of blood pressure.

With hypertension, pressure at a level of 140/50 units or more is considered a pathology that must be eliminated so that complications do not arise later.

The term “adaptive pressure” is most often used specifically for high blood pressure. For example, a hypertensive person can feel from 140/70 to 160/50, and a deviation from these limits in a positive or negative direction causes negative symptoms. Based on this, it is precisely these numbers indicating blood pressure for a hypertensive patient that will be considered familiar, although this is a significant deviation. However, such blood pressure contributes to rapid exhaustion of the body, which can lead to premature complications.

Devices for determining blood pressure

The device used to measure blood pressure is called a tonometer. Answering the question of how pressure is measured, it is worth noting that in the first invention the measurement scale was mercury. From there, it is customary to calculate pressure in units such as millimeters of mercury.

There are two types of tonometers:

  • Electronic device.
  • Mechanical device.

A mechanical tonometer consists of a cuff into which air is pumped using a small hand pump, most often called a “rubber bulb,” as well as a pressure gauge with a scale of values. In addition, a stethoscope is used in tandem with this device. This device is still used today. The pressure values ​​on such products are the most accurate.

Divided into 2 types:

  • Auto.
  • Semi-automatic.

A semi-automatic tonometer consists of a cuff similar to a mechanical one, and also has a rubber bulb for inflation. But, unlike a mechanical one, instead of a pressure gauge, it has a device with a display that indicates the value of blood pressure and heart rate.

Today, there are a variety of types of automatic devices for measuring blood pressure. Some types of devices can only be used in a hospital or at home, others can be very compact, for example, in the form of a wristwatch, which allows you to constantly monitor your blood pressure.

This type of tonometer has the most accurate indication of blood pressure and also shows the heart rate.

How to correctly determine blood pressure levels?

For a certain period of time before the measurement procedure, you should refrain from consuming alcohol and tobacco products, coffee, salty or highly fatty foods. There is also no need to take medications that can affect blood pressure. In addition, you should refrain from any physical activity.

Pressure determination takes place in a calm environment. The person whose blood pressure will be measured must take a comfortable position in a sitting or reclining position. Then the hand must be placed on a table or a special stand. After this, put the cuff on your forearm and fasten it tightly. Then they start measuring.

During the blood pressure measurement period, the patient's arm should be completely relaxed. Usually the blood pressure reading on the right arm is slightly higher. If the blood pressure on both arms is the same, then in the future there will be no need to measure on both arms.

In order to constantly monitor blood pressure, it must be measured 2-3 times a day. It is important to measure blood pressure at the same time. After measurement, the indicators must be recorded in a notebook or journal.

Normal blood pressure values ​​are determined depending on age. Typically, blood pressure levels increase as you age.

Blood pressure indicators depending on age:

  • 20 years – 120/70 units.
  • 40 years – 140/80 units.
  • 60 years – 150/85 units.

However, these indicators do not act as universal ones. They mean only average norms. If age indicators are significantly increased, you should consult a doctor. Since in some cases they mean the development of serious diseases.

Blood pressure measurement using the Korotkoff technique

The Korotkoff method is one of the most accurate methods of measuring blood pressure, recognized by WHO. First of all, to carry out the procedure, you need to take the most comfortable position and position your hand correctly. The tonometer cuff is put on the shoulder and fixed, then the stethoscope membrane is placed in the cubital socket and lightly held with your fingers.

Human health is determined by many indicators, among which blood pressure (BP) plays an important role. Its level indicates the functioning of the cardiovascular system. This parameter must be monitored at any age. To prevent the development of serious pathologies, it is important to know medical standards, how a person’s blood pressure is measured, and how to properly carry out the procedure at home.

What is blood pressure, its types

Blood pressure is the pressure of blood on the walls of blood vessels as it is pumped by the heart. Blood volume per unit of time is the determining indicator. With each heartbeat, the blood flow travels through different vessels, therefore venous, capillary, and intracardiac pressure are released. But it is the arterial criterion that is accepted as determining health.

To measure a person's blood pressure, heart rate plays a leading role. It is responsible for blood circulation between the heart and brain. To some extent, the indicators are affected by the quality of blood, the condition of blood vessels, and concomitant functional disorders.

Blood pressure is expressed in two values, which are shown by the numbers:

  • systolic (upper) pressure - the moment the heart muscle contracts and blood is released into the arteries;
  • diastolic (lower) – the moment of myocardial relaxation with minimal peripheral resistance.

Blood circulating through the aorta continuously presses on the inner surface of the vessels

In a normal situation, the upper indicator is greater than the lower one. The difference between them is called pulse pressure and is 30–50 units. With pathological changes in the circulatory system, the numbers can be completely different.

Blood pressure measurements should be taken at any age. The procedure is quite simple, but very important for preventing hypertension, heart failure, stroke, heart attack and maintaining good health.

In what units is pressure measured?

How is a person's blood pressure measured? For many ordinary people, this remains a mystery, because the main parameters are always stated simply in numbers, for example, 110 by 70. In fact, they mean “mm Hg.” Art., which stands for millimeters of mercury. This is a universal unit of measurement used not only in medicine, but also in meteorology and aviation.

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What do the numbers mean when measuring blood pressure?

In what units is blood pressure measured? The basis is atmospheric pressure, which is determined using a barometer. This device usually contains mercury because it has a high density and balances well. Blood pressure values ​​​​just show the excess of fluid pressure in the circulatory system above atmospheric pressure.

Pressure is measured in mmHg. Art. since the times when the device for monitoring indicators was mercury. It was a vertical glass tube with a millimeter scale; through this tube, the liquid rose or fell depending on the strength of the blood pressure. Now such devices are not used, but the unit of measurement has traditionally remained unchanged.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury or abbreviated as mmHg.

The international system assumes other units of measurement of pressure and their translation. Officially, modern science proposes kilopascals (kPa), which are rarely used in practice. For example, in France, blood pressure is expressed in centimeters of mercury, which makes it difficult to interpret the indicators. We still have the millimeters of mercury that are familiar to everyone.

Blood pressure standards: what they are measured in and how they are deciphered

Blood pressure, without exaggeration, is one of the main indicators of health. To determine physiological abnormalities, standards existing in medical practice are required. The starting point is considered to be 120 by 80 mmHg. Art. This is the average figure for an adult, which identifies pathological disorders of the cardiovascular system.

Most doctors agree that this arterial indicator is quite arbitrary. Comfortable numbers are different for each person. In everyday life they are called “working pressure”, at which a person feels good. In this case, the values ​​​​on the tonometer may differ significantly from the standard 120/80.

Blood pressure depends on many factors, primarily age. Therefore, the basis of medical standards is the age criterion:

  • in newborns the pressure is usually 60 to 40 mmHg. Art.;
  • in children from 1 month to 3 years it ranges from 90 to 45 to 105 to 65;
  • up to 5–6 years it remains at the level of 110/60 mmHg. Art.;
  • in the period between 6 and 12 years – 110–120/60–70;
  • in adolescence it can vary from 110 to 70 to 130 to 80;
  • from 14–16 years old it approaches an adult – 120–125/75-80;
  • after 40 years it increases to 130–135 by 80–85;
  • from 60–65 years old – 135 to 85 mm Hg. Art. and higher.

The norm defines the indicators that doctors consider safe for humans.

Depending on these average indicators, a diagnosis of hypotension (below 100 by 60) and hypertension (above 140 by 90) is made. In this case, there are usually unpleasant symptoms in the form of headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and rapid heartbeat, which force you to go to the doctor. It is important to listen to how you feel and measure your blood pressure so that complications do not develop.

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Causes and treatment of high lower pressure

How to measure blood pressure in a person: methods and techniques

How is blood pressure measured? The procedure for monitoring indicators is quite simple and does not require special skills. It is carried out at home using a special device - a tonometer (sphygmomanometer).

The device comes in several types:

  • mechanical - the simplest and most accurate, consists of a cuff, a rubber bulb, a pressure gauge and a stethoscope;
  • semi-automatic - an electronic (sometimes electronic-mechanical) device, the measurement of indicators is carried out automatically, the person is only required to inflate the cuff with air;
  • automatic - an electronic device that is attached to the shoulder or wrist, independently inflates the cuff with a built-in compressor, records the pressure, and displays the values ​​on a digital display.

For self-monitoring, it is most convenient to use an automatic tonometer, but its readings are not always reliable, and there are significant deviations. The most accurate is considered to be a mechanical device, where heart sounds are listened to using a stethoscope. But it is difficult to carry out the procedure with him without outside help. The best option is to select a sphygmomanometer individually.

Measurements should be carried out in a calm state

How is pressure measured? The accuracy of blood pressure readings largely depends on correctly taken measurements. In automatic mode, just attach the sensor to your hand and wait for the result.

With mechanical things it’s a little more complicated:

  • the cuff is fastened tautly, slightly above the bend of the elbow;
  • the hoses are located approximately in the middle of the hand, on the front side;
  • the stethoscope is inserted into the ears, the membrane is placed on the bend of the elbow;
  • the release valve on the bulb is screwed in until it stops;
  • the pressure gauge is taken in the hand (sometimes attached to the cuff) or placed on the table so that the dial is clearly visible;
  • gradually, without sudden jerks, air is pumped into the cuff using a rubber “bulb” (to the required upper values);
  • the valve is slowly unscrewed, the arrow moves in the opposite direction at a speed of approximately 2 units per second;
  • the upper indicator is recorded when the first beat is heard, the lower indicator is recorded when the last audible tone is recorded.

Any person has measured blood pressure at least once in their life, but often people do not understand what this or that number on the tonometer means. These indicators, like heart rate, are important factors in determining the state of the body. Therefore, everyone should be able to measure blood pressure at home and understand the results obtained in order to monitor their health.

What is blood pressure?

Blood circulating through the aorta continuously presses on the inner surface of the vessels. This pressure is called arterial pressure. Its strength depends on the pumping function of the heart and the elasticity of blood vessels. A healthy heart beats 60-80 times per minute, pumping blood into the arteries. allows oxygen and nutrients to be delivered to internal organs.

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What are the types of blood pressure?

When measuring blood pressure, 2 indicators are displayed on the tonometer: the upper systolic blood pressure, the lower diastolic. The first shows the maximum force of blood flow at the moment of compression of the heart muscle, and the second, on the contrary, indicates the minimum value when the heart muscle relaxes. Thus, systolic pressure depends on the strength of cardiac contraction, and diastolic pressure shows the resistance of peripheral vessels.

The human heart spends the same amount of energy per contraction as it would take to lift a 400 g load to a height of 1 meter.

In what units is human blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury or abbreviated as mmHg. Art. 1 mmHg is equal to 0.00133 bar. Measurements in this unit began due to the fact that the first devices measuring blood pressure looked like a scale with a mercury column. Such tonometers have not been used for several decades, but the measurement measure has remained the same.

Indicator norms

The normal blood pressure level depends on the gender and age of the person.

A person’s blood pressure depends on many factors:

  • Time of day when the measurement is taken.
  • The physical and psychological state of a person. For example, with strong excitement or after intense physical activity, the readings will be higher.
  • The presence of pathologies of internal organs.
  • Taking stimulants or medications.

The norm defines the indicators that doctors consider safe for humans. For healthy people over 17 years of age, the standard values ​​are considered to be 110-130/70-85 mmHg. Art. With age, blood pressure physiologically increases, which is not a deviation from the norm. Normal blood pressure values ​​depending on age and gender are shown in the table:

Average indicators are indicated. For example, if a person has hypotension due to hereditary factors or the physiological structure of the body, then the normal readings for him will be 100/60 mmHg. Art. And a hypertensive person can feel good with a pressure of 140/70 mm. The pressure at which a person feels normal is usually called “working”.

How to measure blood pressure?

To determine the “working” blood pressure accurately, you need to adhere to the following simple rules:

  • Measurements should be carried out in a calm state.
  • Before taking measurements, you should refrain from smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages or taking medications that affect blood pressure.
  • Blood pressure measurements should not be taken after exercise or excitement.
  • Blood pressure should be measured 2-3 times during the day for several days at the same time, and the results should be recorded in a notebook.
  • It is possible to take measurements on both hands. If the data on both hands is the same, then in the future you can take measurements only on the left hand.

The easiest way to measure blood pressure at home is with electronic tonometers, which come in two types: semi-automatic and automatic. Electronic blood pressure monitors provide the most accurate readings; they also measure heart rate. It is better to take measurements in a sitting position. The left hand is placed on the table in a relaxed state. If you need to measure pressure in a supine position, then the arm is positioned along the body and something is placed under it so that it is not lowered below the body. Depending on the type of tonometer, the cuff is placed on the wrist or forearm and is tightly fixed. It is important that the cuff does not pinch your arm too tightly.

Regardless of body position, the arm should be positioned so that the cuff is in line with the heart.

When taking measurements, the hand should not strain or move. After this, air is pumped into the cuff. In semi-automatic machines, air is pumped manually with a rubber bulb to 180 mmHg. Art., after which it gradually descends. On automatic ones, air injection and deflation occurs programmatically. As soon as the measurement is completed, the numbers appear on the display.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury and is always given as two numbers. These are indicators of systolic (upper) and diastolic (lower) pressure.

Features of the functioning of the human cardiovascular system can be monitored by knowing how blood pressure is measured and regularly checking the state of health. Blood pressure, as is known, varies slightly depending on the time of day for each person and varies greatly in people suffering from vegetative-vascular dystonia and hypertension. In this regard, it is important to monitor the level of the indicator.

It is important to understand how and in what way blood pressure is measured. Most people find out the value of their blood pressure using a special device - a tonometer or, as it is also called, a sphygmomanometer. Devices today are available in different types.

However, if surges occur quite often, it is best to see a doctor and get registered. In this case, it will be necessary not only to monitor the blood pressure, but to undergo treatment in order to prevent its sudden changes.

It is impossible to know your blood pressure level without knowing in what units blood pressure is measured. When determining blood pressure, millimeters of mercury are used. The units of measurement are indicated on the preparation to measure its value.

Of course, speaking about the process, it is important to note the basic rules in accordance with which the procedure must be carried out:

  • one hour before the procedure, it is not recommended to drink alcohol, coffee, strong tea, smoke, or use adrenergic agonists;
  • Do not measure blood pressure after excessive physical exertion;
  • the procedure must be carried out in comfortable conditions;
  • the blood pressure value will be elevated if measured in a person under stress;
  • first - the toilet, then - the blood pressure monitor;
  • It is important to relax the hand to which the device is connected and keep it in a comfortable position;
  • do not move during the process.

If a person monitors blood pressure regularly, measurements should be taken twice every day, and at the same time. To find out the most accurate values ​​of the measured indicator, you should do this three times, the interval is 3-5 minutes.

If the measurement is carried out for the first time, blood pressure must be determined in both arms. In the future, measure it with a larger value.

There are different types of devices, but the main components of each tonometer are the following elements:


Pressure measurement algorithm

The procedure for measuring pressure with a mechanical tonometer is as follows.

  1. Having prepared, you need to put the cuff of the device on your arm, raise it a few centimeters above the bend of your elbow so that it is at the same level as your heart.
  2. The stethoscope should be placed on the inner bend of the arm - it is in this area that you can best monitor the pulse.
  3. The air in the cuff needs to be pumped up to a level of 200-220 millimeters of mercury.
  4. Gradually - from two to four millimeters per second - you need to deflate the air.
  5. The first beat that the stethoscope picks up indicates the level of systolic, upper blood pressure.
  6. When the knocking stops, the arrow on the pressure gauge of the device will reflect the value of diastolic, lower pressure.
  7. After taking several measurements at intervals of 3-5 minutes, you will need to calculate the average blood pressure reading - this will be the pressure value.

If the user uses an automatic or semi-automatic device, there is no need to listen to heart sounds. Such a tonometer will display the measured pressure on an electronic display.

What do blood pressure numbers mean?

Learning to use a blood pressure monitor is the first step. Next, it’s worth figuring out what the numbers that the device shows mean and understanding the reasons that determine the increase or decrease in indicators.

In general, the value reflected on the tonometer is considered to be a value with which one can understand how the human circulatory system works. Systolic is the pressure in the arteries during periods when the heart muscle contracts and then pushes blood into the arteries. This figure directly depends on how fast the heart contractions and how strong they are. In addition, the value of systolic pressure is influenced by the number of contractions per minute and the resistance of the walls of blood vessels.

The lower value or diastolic carries information about the state of the arteries during the period when the heart muscles are in a relaxed state. In addition, its indicator fully reflects how strongly the peripheral vessels resist.

Blood pressure norms

As already stated, the unit of measurement for blood pressure is millimeter of mercury. With its help, they monitor the level of the indicator. It also has standards established by doctors.

The optimal value (in mmHg) is 120/80. With this indicator, the cardiovascular system functions most correctly, blood accelerates throughout the body at the required speed.

A level of up to 130/85 is considered acceptable. If the number is higher, the blood pressure is high. It is better to fight it with medications made from herbs - they act more gently, while other drugs will negatively affect the functioning of the heart.

If the level is below 90/60 millimeters of mercury, the pressure is excessively low. With such indicators, arterial hypotension is diagnosed. At very low pressure, a person’s performance decreases, blood accelerates throughout the body very slowly. It is worth taking measures to increase such low blood pressure.

But it is worth considering the direct dependence of pressure on age characteristics. Each person has an individual ideal operating value. However, depending on age, doctors determine the average normal value. Until the age of 20, 120/80 is considered ideal. After twenty to forty – 130/80 to eighty. At forty to sixty years old - up to 140/90. In people over sixty, blood pressure may be 150/90 or higher.

Conclusion

Of course, you need to monitor your blood pressure levels. To do this, it is extremely important to understand how and in what way upper and lower pressure is measured. It is equally useful to know how to behave correctly when measuring blood pressure, since you can accidentally get an overestimated blood pressure value if it is determined immediately after exercise or, for example, drinking alcohol.



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