Blood Pressure
Blood pressure (strictly speaking: vascular pressure) refers to the force exerted by circulating blood on the walls of blood vessels, and constitutes one of the principal vital signs. On the other hand, arterial pressure is the type that indicates the level of pressure as blood traverses the arteries, arterioles, capillaries and veins and is the term most often associated with blood pressure; moreover, arterial pressure decreases as the bloods travels farther away from the heart.
For years, a non-invasive device called a sphygmomanometer (an instrument that provides measurement readings in accordance with the level of mercury in a column or cylindrical glass tube) has been utilized to calculate the pressure of blood flow as it circulates in the body. Although many modern vascular pressure devices no longer use mercury, vascular pressure values are still universally reported in millimetres of mercury (mmHg). The systolic arterial pressure is defined as the peak pressure in the arteries, which occurs near the beginning of the cardiac cycle; the diastolic arterial pressure is the lowest pressure (at the resting phase of the cardiac cycle). The pulse pressure refers to the difference in maximum and minimum pressure level values, and the total overall pressure during the cardiac cycle is referred to as the mean arterial pressure level.
Typical values for a resting, healthy adult human are approximately 120 mmHg (16 kPa) systolic and 80 mmHg (11 kPa) diastolic (written as 120/80 mmHg, and spoken as “one twenty over eighty”) with large individual variations. The measure of your arterial blood pressure can change as often as the heart beats, and your blood pressure may vary at different times of the day. Fluctuations in your arterial blood pressure and are usually not cause for great concern – unless there are particularly large differences. Some common factors that may affect your arterial blood pressure levels are: diet, drugs and alcohol, fitness and even stress.
If your arterial blood pressure is too high, the condition is known as hypertension. On the other hand, if your pressure levels are too low, the condition is known as hypotension. Along with body temperature, blood pressure measurements are the most commonly measured physiological parameters.
Your good health is the most valuable asset you can have and if you have a blood pressure concern, read up on all the information you can find. Seeking professional advice is essential and discuss your blood pressure concerns with your doctor. Balance up what you’ve learned and work on completing your plan to good health and maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.
You can learn more about blood pressure levels and other cardiac health related issues by using reliable specialist sites.
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