Also known as a blood pressure gauge or blood pressure monitor, a sphygmomanometer is a device used to systolic and diastolic blood pressure. It consists of an inflatable rubber cuff that is placed around the upper arm, inflated to totally occlude arterial blood flow in the area, and then the pressure is gradually released. A mercury unit, known as a manometer or aneroid gauge, measures the pressure of the blood flow being exerted against the walls of the artery.
Blood Pressure
A person’s blood pressure is literally a measurement of the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. Force is needed to push the blood throughout the cardiovascular system. Blood pressure is measured and reported as two distinct numbers expressed as (millimeters of mercury) systolic over diastolic pressure.
- Systolic pressure: the pressure exerted outward against the walls of the artery when the heart contracts.
- Diastolic pressure: the pressure exerted outward against the walls of the artery when the heart is in its relaxation phase.
- Pulse Pressure: the difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The pulse pressure creates a pulse wave that is palpable at various pulse points on the body that can be used to determine pulse rate.
Hypertension is defined as abnormally high resting blood pressure. Unlike some other medical conditions, which typically have outward signs, hypertension (high blood pressure) is often referred to as the silent killer because of the absence of outward signs of the disease. It is the most prevalent cardiovascular disease in America with an approximate 73 million Americans (1/3 of adults) affected by the disease and 1 billion affected worldwide. In the U.S., of those adults over 18 years of age with high blood pressure:
- Less than 1/3 have their hypertension under control
- Approximately 1/3 are unaware that they have the condition
Over the span of a lifetime, 90% of people will develop hypertension and the prevalence is of hypertension is greater in Mexican Americans (5.5% higher than whites) and in African Americans (43% higher).
High blood pressure is dangerous to health because it increases the work of the heart, damages the inner lining of arteries, contributes to the hardening of arteries, and the development of:
- Myocardial Hypertrophy
- Congestive Heart Failure
- Retinopathy (blindness)
- Nephropathy (kidney failure)
- Cardiovascular Disease (CAD and heart attack, CVD and stroke)
- Aneurysm
- In pregnant women it can lead to seizures or death, as well as premature births or stillbirths
Classification of Blood Pressure: Normal blood pressure (normotensive) is defined as values less than 120/80 mm Hg. The prehypertension category (systolic between 120/80 mmHg and diastolic and 139/89) identifies individuals at high risk of developing hypertension as well as the related heart and vascular problems. These individuals are strongly encouraged to modify their lifestyle in order to reduce their risk of developing hypertension.
Classification of Blood Pressure for Adults
|
Classification |
Systolic Pressure |
|
Diastolic Pressure |
|
Normal Blood Pressure |
Under 120 (mm Hg) |
And |
Under 80 (mm Hg) |
|
Prehypertension |
120 to 139 |
Or |
80 to 89 |
|
Hypertension – stage 1 |
140 to 159 |
Or |
90 to 99 |
|
Hypertension – stage 2 |
160 to 179 |
Or |
100 to 109 |
|
Hypertension – stage 3 |
180 to 209 |
Or |
110 to 119 |
|
Hypertension – stage 4 |
210 or over |
Or |
120 or over |
Source: Adapted from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2004, p. 12.
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