| From: spud(adonai) ® | 11/09/2000
20:09:00 |
| Subject: Blood pressure | post id:
132813 |
| what does the reading 140/80
mean. Not medically but what do the two values stand for?
| |
| From: Chez ® | 11/09/2000
20:20:00 |
| Subject: re: Blood pressure | post id:
132814 |
| in this case the reading of 140
is the systole (contraction) & the 80 is the reading for the diastole
(relaxation) of the heart. is that the sort of info you were
after? | |
| From: Chez ® | 11/09/2000
20:29:00 |
| Subject: re: Blood pressure | post id:
132817 |
| the systole is the tightening of
the heart, driving the blood into the aorta & lung arteries. the diastolic is the pressure measured between contractions. BP's vary with age, sex, weight & emotional state. I think a normal healthy reading is seen at 120/80 | |
| From: Grant¹ (Avatar) | 11/09/2000
22:11:00 |
| Subject: re: Blood pressure | post id:
132858 |
ok so what do the numbers mean? They're the pressure in mm of Hg. Diastolic pressure > 90mm Hg- reduced life expectancy for both males & females of all ages. Systolic BP is about 80mm at birth, 100-140mm in the young & 140-170mm for people of around 60yrs of age. Strenuous physical activity can increase the systolic BP 60-80 mm above normal. | |
| From: Zardoz ® | |
| Subject: Medical | |
|
Definition Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped and the size and flexibility of the arteries. The blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and drugs. How the test is performed The blood pressure is usually taken while the person is seated with the arm resting on a table and slightly bent so that the arm is at the same level as the heart. The upper arm needs to be bare (with the sleeves rolled up, but not tight or uncomfortable). Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers: for example, 110 over 70 (written as 110/70). The first number is called the "systolic blood pressure" reading, and it represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The second number (the lower number) is called the "diastolic blood pressure" reading, and it represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest. To perform the blood pressure measurement, the blood pressure cuff is wrapped snugly around the upper arm and positioned so that the lower edge of the cuff is 1 inch above the bend of the elbow. The large artery on the inside of the elbow is located by feeling for the pulse. The ear piece of the stethoscope is placed in the ears, and the head of the stethoscope is placed over the artery below the cuff. It should not rub the cuff or any clothing because it can make noises that will block out the pulse sounds. Correct positioning of the stethoscope is important to get an accurate recording. The valve on the rubber inflating bulb is closed. The bulb is squeezed rapidly to inflate the cuff until the dial or column of mercury reads 30 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) higher than the usual systolic pressure. If the usual systolic pressure is unknown, inflate to 210 mm Hg. Now the valve is opened slightly, allowing the pressure to fall gradually (2 to 3 mm Hg per second). As the pressure falls, the level on the dial or mercury tube at which the pulsing is first heard is recorded. This is the systolic pressure. As the air continues to be let out, the sounds will disappear. The point at which the sound disappears is recorded. This is the diastolic pressure (the lowest amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart rests). The procedure may be repeated 2 or more times. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003398.htm | |