High Blood Pressure Information
What is High Blood Pressure?
Blood Pressure is a mysterious word for lay people. But there is no mystery about it. The facts about it are very simple.
Blood Pressure is merely the pressure that the blood exerts on the blood vessels, while circulating.
Blood Pressure is essential for
(1) the return of the blood to the heart, after making its way through more than 60,000 miles long blood vessels of the body,
(2) the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the various cells of the body and the blood capillaries,
(3) the filtering (and therefore purification) of the blood in the kidneys and lungs.
When the rhythmically beating heart contracts, it forcefully drives the blood into the arteries. The pressure at such a time is high and is termed 'systolic blood pressure'. and is termed 'diastolic blood pressure'. The instrument used to measure blood pressure is called a 'sphygmomanometer'.
A systolic blood pressure of 120 mm Hg and a diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg are considered 'normal'. These pressures are denoted as 120/80.
Blood Pressure does not remain the same throughout the day. It undergoes slight variations. The pressure is the least during the early hours of the day, when a person is in a deep sleep. Blood Pressure is temporarily raised by physical lab our, mental strain, acute pain or fear.
It is essential that before measuring the blood pressure, the person should be made to rest for a while.
Related Topics on High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Information
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Risks Factors for High Blood Pressure
High Blood Pressure Treatment
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