Blood pressure is usually refers to the arterial pressure of the heart systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, it varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. It decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart through veins. And also it is influenced by some factors, for example earth gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction of skeletal muscles, which make the value is not the same in various place inside the body.
Usually, doctors or nurses are measuring blood pressure at a person’s upper arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which is the upper arm’s major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. It is typically recorded as the ratio of two numbers, the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure, like 120/80 (in mmHg). Systolic (top number), measures the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats, and Diastolic (bottom number) measures the pressure in the arteries between heartbeats.
What is the value of normal blood pressure? Starting at age 20, the American Heart Association recommends a blood pressure screening at your regular healthcare visit or once every 2 years, if your blood pressure is less than 120/80 mm Hg. Your blood pressure rises with each heartbeat and falls when your heart relaxes between beats. While it can change from everytime with changes in posture, exercise, stress or sleep, it should normally be less than 120/80 mm Hg for an adult age 20 or over. Based on statistic, about one in three (33.5%) U.S. adults has high blood pressure.
If your blood pressure reading is higher than normal, your doctor may take several readings over time and/or have you monitor your blood pressure at home before diagnosing you with high blood pressure. And when you are sick or have to spend some days in hospitals, you will notice that your blood pressure is measured over time and they write it down a piece of paper. Because the value have to be observed for some period of time, 24 hours or more, depends of doctor first diagnoses.
If you have blood pressure measurement tool, you can try to record and observe your blood pressure pattern. You can download this free blood pressure log template and start recording. If you found that you have a high blood pressure pattern, you could consider to change your lifestyle or habit. Because if you have a bad habit, like not having enough sleeping, eat high cholesterol foods, drinking, it will give you more risks of having heart problems when you are getting older and older. But, if you have normal blood pressure, you can continue your lifestyle. I am not a doctor :). If you need more information related with this blood pressure, you can find in many medical internet sites or ask your doctor to explain it to you. I am just provide this blood pressure log template that you can print and help you start recording your blood pressure.
