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Measuring your Blood Pressure
Understanding the systolic and diastolic values is an important part of knowing if you have high or low blood
pressure. The American Heart Association has indicated the standard levels of blood pressure. These results vary
on account of age, weight and medical history.
Results Systolic Value(mm Hg) Diastolic Value(mm Hg)
Normal less than 120 and less than 80
Pre-hypertension 120–139 or 80–89
High
Stage 1 140–159 or 90–99
Stage 2 160 or higher or 100 or higher
Having your blood pressure checked by a doctor will determine whether you have high blood pressure. He will check
it several times over a period of days to get an accurate reading. A consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90
mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure, another term for hypertension. The doctor will use a
stethoscope and a medical instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A rubber cuff is wrapped around your upper
arm an inch above the elbow. There are two rubber tubes connected to the cuff. One tube goes to a rubber bulb that
is used to inflate the cuff. The other tube is connected to either a mercury meter or an aneroid manometer (gauge).
When the cuff is inflated, it restricts a large artery in your upper arm, momentarily stopping blood flow. As air in the
cuff is slowly released, the person measuring the blood pressure listens with a stethoscope to hear when the blood
starts to pulse through the artery. When you first hear the pulse is that number value is the systolic. The sounds
continue to be heard until pressure in the artery exceeds the pressure in the cuff. When the pulse cannot be heard is
the number value for the diastolic.
Understanding the systolic and diastolic values is an important part of knowing if you have high or low blood
pressure. The American Heart Association has indicated the standard levels of blood pressure. These results vary
on account of age, weight and medical history.
Results Systolic Value(mm Hg) Diastolic Value(mm Hg)
Normal less than 120 and less than 80
Pre-hypertension 120–139 or 80–89
High
Stage 1 140–159 or 90–99
Stage 2 160 or higher or 100 or higher
Having your blood pressure checked by a doctor will determine whether you have high blood pressure. He will check
it several times over a period of days to get an accurate reading. A consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90
mmHg or higher is considered high blood pressure, another term for hypertension. The doctor will use a
stethoscope and a medical instrument called a sphygmomanometer. A rubber cuff is wrapped around your upper
arm an inch above the elbow. There are two rubber tubes connected to the cuff. One tube goes to a rubber bulb that
is used to inflate the cuff. The other tube is connected to either a mercury meter or an aneroid manometer (gauge).
When the cuff is inflated, it restricts a large artery in your upper arm, momentarily stopping blood flow. As air in the
cuff is slowly released, the person measuring the blood pressure listens with a stethoscope to hear when the blood
starts to pulse through the artery. When you first hear the pulse is that number value is the systolic. The sounds
continue to be heard until pressure in the artery exceeds the pressure in the cuff. When the pulse cannot be heard is
the number value for the diastolic.
| Blood Pressure Facts |
BLOOD PRESSURE FACTS
| Copyright 2008 ::Blood Pressure Supplies |
Medical guidelines advise that most adults should have a blood pressure reading of 120/80 or less to be in the
normal range. This range requires no medical involvement and you can go off on your merry way.
Your blood pressure reading is 130/88. That does not sound too bad, right? Well, you are now considered to be in
the prehypertension range and will need to be monitored more carefully to watch your blood pressure level. Your
doctor may suggest monthly visits to their office to have your blood pressure taken or they may recommend that you
purchase a monitoring device to use at home. In addition, you may be given information on dietary hints to help
you control or lower your blood pressure without medication.
Now, if your blood pressure was 140/90 or more, you definitely have high blood pressure and you will require
medical attention to control this disease. With a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher your doctor will
recommend that you take medication and you will begin a lifetime of careful monitoring to control your blood
pressure level.
No matter what your blood pressure reading, you need to know what your reading is, what it means, and how to
manage it.
normal range. This range requires no medical involvement and you can go off on your merry way.
Your blood pressure reading is 130/88. That does not sound too bad, right? Well, you are now considered to be in
the prehypertension range and will need to be monitored more carefully to watch your blood pressure level. Your
doctor may suggest monthly visits to their office to have your blood pressure taken or they may recommend that you
purchase a monitoring device to use at home. In addition, you may be given information on dietary hints to help
you control or lower your blood pressure without medication.
Now, if your blood pressure was 140/90 or more, you definitely have high blood pressure and you will require
medical attention to control this disease. With a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher your doctor will
recommend that you take medication and you will begin a lifetime of careful monitoring to control your blood
pressure level.
No matter what your blood pressure reading, you need to know what your reading is, what it means, and how to
manage it.
Blood Pressure Monitors
Today’s medical advances make it easy to monitor your own blood pressure at home. You can purchase a home
blood pressure measuring device or monitor from many different retail stores, a local pharmacy or even from a
grocery store pharmacy. There are many different monitors available for sale, so it is important to obtain the best
one to meet your needs.
It is important to remember that you must use the monitor properly and you may want to talk to your doctor to see
which home monitoring device is the best. Your doctor or his staff should be willing to help you check the monitor
and teach you how to use it correctly. This is best done at the doctor’s office where he can check your blood
pressure with his monitor and then check it with your monitor to ensure that they display similar information.
When using your home blood pressure monitoring device, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First, relax
and breathe deeply. Find a comfortable place to take your blood pressure. Use a chair that supports your back and
where you can sit with your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table or armchair—you should keep your arm
level with your heart while using the blood pressure monitor. Measure your blood pressure twice with about 2
minutes between the readings—then average the results.
Maintain a daily record of your blood pressure readings. You can provide this information to your doctor when you
visit and become an active participant in your own health care.
Today’s medical advances make it easy to monitor your own blood pressure at home. You can purchase a home
blood pressure measuring device or monitor from many different retail stores, a local pharmacy or even from a
grocery store pharmacy. There are many different monitors available for sale, so it is important to obtain the best
one to meet your needs.
It is important to remember that you must use the monitor properly and you may want to talk to your doctor to see
which home monitoring device is the best. Your doctor or his staff should be willing to help you check the monitor
and teach you how to use it correctly. This is best done at the doctor’s office where he can check your blood
pressure with his monitor and then check it with your monitor to ensure that they display similar information.
When using your home blood pressure monitoring device, it is important to keep a few things in mind. First, relax
and breathe deeply. Find a comfortable place to take your blood pressure. Use a chair that supports your back and
where you can sit with your feet flat on the floor. Rest your arm on a table or armchair—you should keep your arm
level with your heart while using the blood pressure monitor. Measure your blood pressure twice with about 2
minutes between the readings—then average the results.
Maintain a daily record of your blood pressure readings. You can provide this information to your doctor when you
visit and become an active participant in your own health care.
Blood Pressure Supplies
What Does Your Blood Pressure Reading Mean?
You just had a yearly physical examination and the doctor tell you that your blood pressure reading is 120/80.
What if he told you that it was 130/88, or, 140/90? Is that good or is that bad? Most people do not really
understand what their blood pressure reading really tells them and their doctor.
You just had a yearly physical examination and the doctor tell you that your blood pressure reading is 120/80.
What if he told you that it was 130/88, or, 140/90? Is that good or is that bad? Most people do not really
understand what their blood pressure reading really tells them and their doctor.