Term:
Blood Pressure
Description:
Force of blood on the walls of the arteries resulting from the squeezing effect of the heart's left ventricle (systole), with residual maintenance (diastole) as the heart chambers relax and expand.
Blood pressure is usually measured using a sphygmomanometer placed at the brachial artery in the arm, as the force needed to raise a column of mercury and expressed in millimeters (mm) of Mercury (Hg) as a fraction, the upper number representing the systolic pressure, the lower number the diastolic pressure. Blood pressure varies with age, sex, condition of the arteries, force of the heart muscle contraction, emotional state, and general health of the arteries and heart. Adult blood pressure is usually considered normal at about 120/80 mm Hg; in children its lower. High blood pressure is termed hypertension, low blood pressure, hypotension.
Symptoms:
n/a
Treatment:
n/a
*You should always seek a professional physician's
advice before trying to administer any type of treatment.
Picture:
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Please contact our Physician Referral Service
at (702) 383-1904.
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or it's related web pages, is provided for educational purposes
only. Consult your own physician, or visit a UMC Primary
Care, regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations
with respect to your symptoms or medical condition.
