Blood Pressure (B.P.)

Blood flows continuously through the blood vessels because the heart keeps contracting and relaxing rhythmically. This process is crucial to ensuring blood reaches every part of the body. When the heart contracts (beats), it pushes blood out with force, creating pressure on the walls of the arteries. This force is called blood pressure. Blood pressure is important because it helps move blood through the arteries, supplying oxygen and nutrients to different tissues and organs.

• The pressure created when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the arteries is known as systolic pressure. This is the higher number when blood pressure is recorded.
• When the heart relaxes between beats, the pressure decreases. This is called diastolic pressure, and it represents the lower number in a blood pressure reading.
• For a healthy adult, normal blood pressure is generally in the range of 120/80 mm Hg to 139/89 mm Hg. Here, "mm Hg" stands for millimetres of mercury, the unit used to measure pressure.
• Blood pressure is measured using a device called a sphygmomanometer, which consists of a cuff, a pump, and a pressure gauge.
• Keeping blood pressure within the normal range is essential to ensure that all parts of the body get adequate blood flow and function properly.
• High or low blood pressure can lead to various health problems, making regular monitoring important.

Sphygmomanometer

Blood pressure is the pressure that the blood flowing through the arteries exerts on their walls.

Diastolic pressure is the lower limit of blood pressure, recorded when the heart is at rest and the pressure in the arteries drops after the pulse wave has passed.

Hypertension is a condition in which the blood pressure consistently remains above 140/90 mm Hg.

A sphygmomanometer is the instrument used to measure blood pressure in the arteries.

• Blood Pressure (BP) — Hydrostatic pressure of blood. Normal BP = 120/80 mmHg (systolic/diastolic). Measured from the brachial artery using a sphygmomanometer.
• Hypertension — BP above 140/90 mmHg. Extreme readings (180/120 mmHg) damage vital organs like brain and kidneys.
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) — Caused by deposition of calcium, fat, cholesterol and fibrous tissue in coronary arteries, narrowing them.
• Angina Pectoris — Insufficient O₂ to heart muscles causes acute chest pain. Angiography (X-ray imaging) is used to locate blockages in cardiac blood vessels.
• Heart Transplantation — Severely damaged heart replaced by a healthy heart from a brain-dead/recently dead donor.
• Silent Heart Attack — Lacks classic symptoms like extreme chest pain or hypertension, making it difficult to detect.