Question

Explain the term blood pressure. How do we measure it in our body?

Answer 1

Blood pressure is a measurement of force exerted against walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood to the body.

• It is always measured in the upper arm artery. It varies throughout the body, so a standard place must be used so that a person’s blood pressure can be compared over a period of time.
• Sphygmomanometer is the device used by doctors to measure B.P. There are two pressure readings.
• One measures the strongest pressure during the time blood is forced out of the ventricles. This is called systolic pressure. For a healthy young adult it will be 120 mm of Hg.
• The second reading is taken during the resting period, as the ventricles refill with blood. This is called diastolic pressure. It will be 80 mm of Hg.