Life Can Depend on Your Blood Pressure Readings
Blood pressure is the amount of force the blood exerts on your arteries, which occurs with every heart beat. Measuring your blood pressure helps indicate the health of your heart. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
High blood pressure readings can eventually lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure without even knowing it. According to the American Heart Association, one third of American Adults have high blood pressure and one third of them don't realize they have high blood pressure.
While a lower blood pressure is better for the heart. A too low blood pressure can cause lightheadedness, fainting and sometime shock. Your vital organs and body parts will have a lack of oxygen and nutrients and cause permanent damage. Low blood pressure can be caused by standing too fast, and other medical conditions.
The systolic reading occurs when the blood pressure is at its highest. This occurs when the heart beats and forces the blood into the arteries. The diastolic reading occurs when the heart is at rest, which is between the contractions. Your blood pressure reading is usually systolic over diastolic (systolic/diastolic). A reading above 120/80 is considered high blood pressure, above 140/90 is called hypertension, and a reading below 90/60 is considered low blood pressure.
There are different tools a healthcare professional uses to measure your blood pressure.
Many healthcare professionals use a stethoscope and a manual sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. Typically they take the reading above your elbow. The sphygmomanometer has a bladder, cuff, bulb, and a gauge. When the bulb is pumped it inflates the bladder inside the cuff, which is wrapped around your arm. This inflation will stop the blood flow in your arteries. The stethoscope is used to listen for sound of the heartbeat, and no sound indicates that there is no flow. As the pressure is released from the bladder, you will hear the sound of the blood flowing again. That point becomes systolic reading. The diastolic reading is when you hear no sound again, which means that the blood flow is back to normal.
Current technology, now offers portable automatic blood pressure monitors. Some models can be battery operated, take reading from the wrist or arm, and have a memory to keep track of historical readings. Other models can include other vital sign monitoring, such as temperature, heart rate, and oximetry (the amount of oxygen in your blood).
Some manufacturers of blood pressure measuring devices include, WA Baum, Mabis, Omron, American Diagnostic Corporation, and Welch Allyn
High blood pressure readings can eventually lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure without even knowing it. According to the American Heart Association, one third of American Adults have high blood pressure and one third of them don't realize they have high blood pressure.
While a lower blood pressure is better for the heart. A too low blood pressure can cause lightheadedness, fainting and sometime shock. Your vital organs and body parts will have a lack of oxygen and nutrients and cause permanent damage. Low blood pressure can be caused by standing too fast, and other medical conditions.
The systolic reading occurs when the blood pressure is at its highest. This occurs when the heart beats and forces the blood into the arteries. The diastolic reading occurs when the heart is at rest, which is between the contractions. Your blood pressure reading is usually systolic over diastolic (systolic/diastolic). A reading above 120/80 is considered high blood pressure, above 140/90 is called hypertension, and a reading below 90/60 is considered low blood pressure.
There are different tools a healthcare professional uses to measure your blood pressure.
Many healthcare professionals use a stethoscope and a manual sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. Typically they take the reading above your elbow. The sphygmomanometer has a bladder, cuff, bulb, and a gauge. When the bulb is pumped it inflates the bladder inside the cuff, which is wrapped around your arm. This inflation will stop the blood flow in your arteries. The stethoscope is used to listen for sound of the heartbeat, and no sound indicates that there is no flow. As the pressure is released from the bladder, you will hear the sound of the blood flowing again. That point becomes systolic reading. The diastolic reading is when you hear no sound again, which means that the blood flow is back to normal.
Current technology, now offers portable automatic blood pressure monitors. Some models can be battery operated, take reading from the wrist or arm, and have a memory to keep track of historical readings. Other models can include other vital sign monitoring, such as temperature, heart rate, and oximetry (the amount of oxygen in your blood).
Some manufacturers of blood pressure measuring devices include, WA Baum, Mabis, Omron, American Diagnostic Corporation, and Welch Allyn
Published by Noah Lam
Noah Lam has over 16 years of experience of providing quality medical supplies & healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents & children. CWI Medical is an ACHC Accredited organization. Noah is... View profile
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Omron Automatic Blood Pressure Monitor Model HEM - 711This is a self contained, automatic, blood pressure cuff that is easy to use, sturdy, and most important of all, remarkably accurate.
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