Blood Pressure Monitors
High Blood Pressure, also called hypertension, is a risk factor for heart and kidney diseases and stroke. This means that having high blood pressure increases your chance (or risk) of getting heart or kidney disease, or of having a stroke. This is serious business: heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, and stroke is the third most common cause of death.
About one in every four American adults has high blood pressure. High blood pressure is especially dangerous because it often gives no warning signs or symptoms. Fortunately, though, you can find out if you have high blood pressure by having your blood pressure checked regularly. If it is high, you can take steps to lower it.
Your blood pressure is measured with an instrument called a sphygmomanometer (sfig-mo-ma-nom-e-ter). The first sound heard and registered on the gauge or mercury column is called the systolic blood pressure. It represents the maximum pressure in the artery produced as the heart contracts and the blood begins to flow. The last sound heard as more air is released from the cuff is the diastolic blood pressure. It represents the lowest pressure that remains within the artery when the heart is at rest.
Blood pressure is always expressed in two numbers that represent the systolic and diastolic pressures. These numbers are measurements of millimeters (mm) of mercury (Hg). The measurement is written one above or before the other, with the systolic number on the top and the diastolic number on the bottom. For example, a blood pressure measurement of 120/80 mm Hg is expressed verbally as "120 over 80." If your blood pressure is less than 140/90 mm Hg, it is considered normal. However, a blood pressure below 120/80 mm Hg is even better for your heart and blood vessels. People use to think that low blood pressure (for example, 105/65 mm Hg in an adult) was unhealthy. Except for rare cases, this is not true. High blood pressure or "hypertension" is classified by stages and is more serious as the numbers get higher.
Tips for blood pressure monitoring
- Find a quiet place.
- Make sure that you are comfortable and relaxed with a recently emptied bladder a full bladder may affect your reading.
- Roll up the sleeve on your arm or remove any tight-sleeved clothing.
- Rest in a chair next to a table for 5 to 10 minutes. Your arm should rest comfortably at heart level. Sit up straight with your back against the chair, legs uncrossed. Rest your forearm on the table with the palm of your hand facing up.
- A blood pressure of 130/80 is considered high in persons with diabetes or kidney disease.
- Self monitoring is not to take place of a regular check up with your physician.
| Category | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | 120 or less | 80 or less |
| Prehypertension | 120-139 | 80-89 |
| High Blood Pressure | Systolic | Diastolic |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | 140-159 | 90-99 |
| Stage 2 | 160 or higher | 100 or higher |
For more information, visit the American Heart Association.