Blood pressure is called blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels. This is one of the most important indicators of the normal functioning of the whole organism and the circulatory system. The magnitude of the pressure depends on several indicators: the frequency of contractions of the heart, their strength, the tension of the walls of the vessels, the volume of blood circulating in the vessels.
Distinguish between systolic pressure, sometimes called the upper, and diastolic - lower. Systolic pressure is determined during the release of blood from the ventricles of the heart, which occurs during systole.
Diagnostic value of blood pressure indicators
Determining the level of blood pressure is the most important method of diagnostic examination of patients. An increase in blood pressure above normal is called arterial hypertension. An increase in blood pressure is a clear sign of many diseases. It happens with hypertension, kidney disease, endocrine pathology. Hypertension is the most common cause of high blood pressure. This indicator is the main diagnostic symptom of the disease, the course of the disease, the condition of the patient, and the likelihood of complications depend on its level.
Pressure reduction is called arterial hypotension. Low blood pressure of a constant nature is observed with vegetovascular dystonia, neurasthenia. An acute decrease in blood pressure often threatens the life of the patient and can be observed in acute blood loss, myocardial infarction, shock state of various origins.
Usually, both systolic pressure and diastolic pressure change simultaneously. In some cases, an increase or decrease in one of them may be observed. For example, with aortic valve insufficiency, high systolic pressure and low diastolic pressure are determined, with kidney disease, diastolic pressure increases more.
How to measure blood pressure
Today, determining the level of blood pressure is available to everyone. For this, devices called tonometers are used, which can be electronic and mechanical. The method of measuring pressure was first proposed by the Russian physician N. Korotkov. It happened back in 1905. To measure pressure, a special cuff is used, which is applied to the middle part of the shoulder, a pressure gauge and a rubber balloon for pumping air. With a rubber balloon, air is injected into the cuff until the pulse in the region of the radial artery stops palpating. Then open the valve and begin to slowly release the air in the cuff. At the same time, using a phonendoscope, they listen to sounds on the brachial artery located in the region of the ulnar fossa and monitor the pressure gauge. The appearance of the first pulse waves determines systolic pressure. This indicator is fixed on the gauge scale. The moment of termination of listening to contractions corresponds to the value of diastolic pressure.
Often, an increase in blood pressure is asymptomatic, imperceptible to the patient. Therefore, it is recommended that at the age of over forty, periodically measure the pressure for the timely diagnosis of hypertension. Constant monitoring of blood pressure is indicated for all patients with hypertension. Patients suffering from this disease need to learn how to measure pressure in order to independently determine its level. To normalize the level of pressure, patients are shown taking antihypertensive drugs, which, depending on the stage of the disease, are taken periodically or constantly. Increased systolic pressure in the absence of treatment can lead to the development of severe complications: hypertensive crises, heart attack, stroke.
Blood pressure is called blood pressure on the walls of blood vessels. This is one of the most important indicators of the normal functioning of the whole organism and the circulatory system. The magnitude of the pressure depends on several indicators: the frequency of contractions of the heart, their strength, the tension of the walls of the vessels, the volume of blood circulating in the vessels. Distinguish between systolic pressure, sometimes called the upper, and diastolic - lower. Systolic pressure is determined during the release of blood from the ventricles of the heart, which occurs during systole
Diagnostic value of blood pressure indicators
Determining the level of blood pressure is the most important method of diagnostic examination of patients. An increase in blood pressure above normal is called arterial hypertension. An increase in blood pressure is a clear sign of many diseases. It happens with hypertension, kidney disease, endocrine pathology. Hypertension is the most common cause of high blood pressure. This indicator is the main diagnostic symptom of the disease, the course of the disease, the condition of the patient, and the likelihood of complications depend on its level.
Pressure reduction is called arterial hypotension. Low blood pressure of a constant nature is observed with vegetovascular dystonia, neurasthenia. An acute decrease in blood pressure often threatens the life of the patient and can be observed in acute blood loss, myocardial infarction, shock state of various origins.
Usually, both systolic pressure and diastolic pressure change simultaneously . In some cases, an increase or decrease in one of them may be observed. For example, with aortic valve insufficiency, high systolic pressure and low diastolic pressure are determined, with kidney disease, diastolic pressure increases more.
How to measure blood pressure
Today, determining the level of blood pressure is available to everyone. For this, devices called tonometers are used, which can be electronic and mechanical. The method of measuring pressure was first proposed by the Russian physician N. Korotkov. It happened back in 1905. To measure pressure, a special cuff is used, which is applied to the middle part of the shoulder, a pressure gauge and a rubber balloon for pumping air. With a rubber balloon, air is injected into the cuff until the pulse in the region of the radial artery stops palpating. Then open the valve and begin to slowly release the air in the cuff. At the same time, using a phonendoscope, they listen to sounds on the brachial artery located in the region of the ulnar fossa and monitor the pressure gauge. The appearance of the first pulse waves determines systolic pressure. This indicator is fixed on the gauge scale. The moment of termination of listening to adhesions corresponds to the value of diastolic pressure.
Often, an increase in blood pressure is asymptomatic, imperceptible to the patient. Therefore, it is recommended that at the age of over forty, periodically measure the pressure, for timely diagnosis of hypertension. Constant monitoring of blood pressure is indicated for all patients with hypertension. Patients suffering from this disease need to learn how to measure pressure in order to independently determine its level. To normalize the level of pressure, patients are shown taking antihypertensive drugs, which, depending on the stage of the disease, are taken periodically or constantly. Increased systolic pressure in the absence of treatment can lead to the development of serious complications - hypertensive crises, heart attack, stroke.