Month: October 2011

How to Measure Blood Pressure

Your Health Matters

How To Measure Blood Pressure

Do you know how to measure blood pressure? More and more people are becoming interested in the topic.

A machine called a sphygmomanometer is used to measure blood pressure. The machine has three parts- the sphygmomanometer, the sphygmomanometer cuff and the inflation bulb.

To measure a patients blood pressure, the cuff is wrapped around their upper arm with it laying flat and upward on a table or flat surface; the cuff is secured in place by a piece of Velcro. The doctor or nurse then places a stethoscope on the lower part of the arm just above the brachial artery. The inflation bulb is then pumped to 180 while the doctor or nurse uses the stethoscope to listen to the heartbeat. By using the pump to inflate the cuff, it cuts of the blood flow to the artery.

Once the meter reaches 180 the valve on the cuff is slowly released and the first set of numbers that the doctor or nurse counts is the systolic (or top number), the second set of numbers that is heard is the diastolic (or bottom number); the process of taking a blood pressure with the sphygmomanometer is done in five phases.

The first phase is where the actual blood pressure is taken as in the steps above.

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Gordon Cameron is a family doctor in Scotland. He has a special interest in blood pressure problems including treating high blood pressure and in using natural blood pressure treatments like Alistrol to lower BP levels without side effects.
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High Blood Pressure | Symptoms and Natural Treatment for High Blood Pressure

Your Health Matters

Now, one of the issues lies in how to make the diagnosis and this is where confusion often arises. It’s partly about how to define what low blood pressure actually is. The textbooks say it relates to a reading less than 90 systolic and less than 60 diastolic – or less than 90 / 60 to put it another way. This is only partly true however because some people at this level will feel entirely healthy and well. Super fit athletes are a good example of this – they have a slow resting heart rate and a very low resting BP level. This simply shows how well conditioned their heart is. The message is that it’s not enough to simply have low readings, they only count for something if you have symptoms to go with it.

Symptoms of High Blood Pressure:

A woman experiencing symptoms will usually start having pain in the pelvic area, especially during menstruation periods. A sharp pain during or after intercourse can be a strong indication of a cyst, nausea and vomiting, pain or pressure in the abdomen or lower back areas, vaginal spotting, fever, acne, trouble urinating or moving bowels, weight gain, insulin resistance, infertility and high blood pressure. These are just some of the common signs and symptoms.

More so, if you experience two or more of these symptoms at a time then it may be an obvious indicator of a cyst. Take drastic measures if you check with a specialist because they may refer you to unnecessary surgery. Overall, an ovarian cyst does not necessarily need surgery. Surgical treatments often will leave you with a damaged pelvic which will effect your chances of getting children. Hormonal and birth control pills may only help relieve some symptoms but will not actually prevent the cysts from reoccurring. Moreover, the prolonged use of prescription medication can leave behind long term side effects.

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Must read about Lower Cholesterol Level at Herbal Supplements
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High Blood Pressure What you can do to Lower yours

Your Health Matters

What is High Blood Pressure?

What Causes it?

What are the Risks?

How can it be lowered?

Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure put on the walls of the blood vessels by the blood which is pumped around by the heart.  It is normally measured via the brachial artery in the upper arm, but can be measured at other points on the body.

Blood pressure values are reported in millimetres of mercury (Hg) given by 2 numbers e.g. 130/90

The first number is Systolic pressure, which is the blood pressure exerted when the heart beats and forces blood around the body.

The second number is Diastolic pressure, which is the pressure exerted when the heart rests between beats.

So a BP of 130/90 (130 over 90) means a systolic pressure of 130mm of mercury and a diastolic pressure of 90 mm of mercury.  A Sphygmanometer is normally used which involves a cuff placed snugly around the arm, a measuring unit (a mercury manometer or aneroid gauge), and an inflation bulb for manual instruments. Electronic units inflate themselves and give a digital readout.

What is High Blood Pressure?

High blood pressure or Hypertension is classed as 140-159/90-99 in adults. The ranges are[1]:

Category                                              Systolic mm Hg                 Diastolic mm Hg

Hypotension (low)                                 < 90                                        < 60 By:

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