1. Understand the Definition of Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is a measurement of how much pressure your blood is under while inside your arteries. This pressure is created by the contraction of the heart muscle as blood is pumped out and sent through the body's arteries, veins and capillaries. Blood pressure is measured by how much of a substance the pressure displaces. (The standard substance is usually mercury.) There are both automatic and manual blood pressure monitors, otherwise known as sphygmomanometers, that use arm cuffs to measure the blood pressure of the brachial artery in the upper arm as blood is taken away from the heart.
2. Find Out What Systolic Readings Mean
Blood pressure readings consist of two numbers: the systolic and diastolic measurements. The systolic reading is recorded first, and it measures the instance of greatest pressure in the artery. This occurs when the heart is contracting or tightening. The systolic reading is a number somewhere in the range of 85 to 145 measured in millimeters of mercury. The abbreviation for mercury is Hg, so "90 mmHg" would be a normal systolic reading.
3. Learn the Meaning of Diastolic Readings
Diastolic pressure is the second number in a blood pressure reading. It indicates the occurrence of the least amount of pressure in the arteries. This happens in between heart beats while the blood is flowing back into the heart. The diastolic reading is a number in the approximate range of 50 to 95 mmHg.
4. Know the Range
A normal, healthy measurement for blood pressure should be roughly 120 mmHg of systolic pressure and 85 mmHg of diastolic pressure, more commonly written as 120/85 mmHg. Low blood pressure, also known as hypotension, is designated by any measurement below 90/50 mmHg. High blood pressure, known as hypertension, is denoted by any reading over 140/90 mmHg. Readings that fall between normal and high are often classified as prehypertensive. This is a sign that hypertension will probably develop soon if no lifestyle changes are made. It is also important to understand that normal ranges for children and teens are lower, while the elderly tend to have blood pressure measurements on the higher end of the spectrum. Of course, you should never place too much importance on a one-time measurement. Blood pressure can be affected by all sorts of things, like recent exercise, sleep, caffeine intake and other factors. Have several blood pressure readings taken over a period of time to get a better idea of your true range.
