Blood Pressure

Blood pressure refers to the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries as it circulates through the body. It is commonly expressed as two values: systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.

Blood pressure is typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). A normal blood pressure reading for adults is typically around 120/80 mmHg, with the systolic pressure of 120 and diastolic pressure of 80. However, optimal blood pressure can vary slightly depending on factors such as age, overall health, and individual circumstances.

Below shows a healthcare professional performing blood pressure monitoring on a patient.

By rawpixel.com - http://allfreephotos.net/, CC0, https://commons.wikimedia.org

High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a condition where the blood pressure consistently remains elevated above normal levels. Hypertension can put additional strain on the heart and blood vessels, potentially leading to various health problems if left uncontrolled. Conversely, low blood pressure, known as hypotension, is when the blood pressure is consistently lower than normal, which may cause symptoms like dizziness or fainting.

High blood pressure is classified as a reading of more than 140/90 millimetres of mercury. The first figure, the systolic pressure, corresponds to the ‘surge’ that occurs with each heart beat while the diastolic reading is the pressure in the ‘resting’ stage between beats. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly half of adults in the United States (47%) have hypertension, defined as a systolic blood pressure greater than 130 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure greater than 80 mmHg or are taking medication for hypertension. 

Half of those with high blood pressure are aged 60 or over.

In developed countries, the risk of suffering high blood pressure over your lifetime is 90 per cent.

There are many things you can do to control your blood pressure, including losing weight, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and not smoking.

The first blood pressure cuff was invented in 1881 by an Italian doctor named Scipione Riva-Rocci.

Astronauts lose as much as 22% of their blood while in space, as a reaction to the uniform blood pressure caused by microgravity. Until their body replaces this blood, many returning astronauts can't stand for more than a few minutes without fainting.

In 2009, Ozzie (c. 1961 – January 25, 2022), an African-born western lowland gorilla at Zoo Atlanta, 

learned how to take his own blood pressure, He did this by inserting his arm in a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff).

The average giraffe has a blood pressure two or three times that of the average human.

Source Daily Mail August 24, 2011