About Blood Pressure - LifeSource UA-767 Instruction Manual

ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE

What Is Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of
the arteries. Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts;
diastolic pressure occurs when the heart expands. Blood pressure
is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
What Affects Blood Pressure?
Blood pressure is affected by many factors: age, weight, time of
day, activity level, climate, altitude and season. Certain activities
can significantly alter blood pressure. Walking can raise systolic
pressure by 12 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 5.5 mmHg.
Sleeping can decrease systolic blood pressure by as much as 10
mmHg. Taking your blood pressure repeatedly without waiting an
interval of 5 to 10 minutes between readings, or without raising
your arm to allow blood to flow back to the heart, can also affect it.
In addition to these factors, diet beverages containing caffeine or
alcohol, certain medications, emotional stress and even tight-
fitting clothes can make a difference in the readings.
What Causes Variations In Blood Pressure?
An individual' s blood pressure varies greatly from day to day and
season to season. In hypersensitive individuals, these variations are
even more pronounced. Normally, blood pressure rises during work
or play and falls to its lowest levels during sleep.
Fluctuation within a day (case: 35 year old male)
200
150
100
50
0
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Systolic Blood
Pressure
Diastolic Blood
Pressure
ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE
Assessing High Blood Pressure
The following standards for assessing high blood pressure
(without regard to age) have been established by the National
Institutes of Health JNCVI.
Category Systolic (mmHg)
Optimal <120
Normal <130
High Normal 130 - 139
Hypertension
Stage 1 140 – 159
Stage 2 160 – 179
Stage 3 180
What Is Hypertension?
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is the diagnosis given
when readings consistently rise above normal. It is well known
that hypertension can lead to stroke, heart attack or other illness
if left untreated. Referred to as a "silent killer" because it does
not always produce symptoms that alert you to the problem,
hypertension is treatable when diagnosed early.
Can Hypertension Be Controlled?
In many individuals, hypertension can be controlled by altering
lifestyle and minimizing stress, and by appropriate medication
prescribed and monitored by your doctor. The American Heart
Association recommends the following lifestyle suggestions to
prevent or control hypertension:
Don't smoke.
Reduce salt and fat intake.
Maintain proper weight.
Exercise routinely.
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Diastolic (mmHg)
<80
<85
85 – 89
90 – 99
100 – 109
110
Have regular physical
checkups.
Monitor your blood
pressure at periodic intervals.
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