ANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Blood pressure is measured as two numbers: Systolic blood pressure (the first and higher number) measures pressure inside your arteries when the heart beats. Diastolic blood pressure (the second and lower number) measures the pressure inside the artery when the heart rests between beats.

Detailed explanation-2: -Systolic blood pressure, the top number, measures the force the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries each time it beats. Diastolic blood pressure, the bottom number, measures the force the heart exerts on the walls of the arteries in between beats.

Detailed explanation-3: -Pressure readings are presented as systolic/diastolic and values up to 120/80 mmHg (millimeters of Mercury) are considered normal. Readings from 120/80 to 139/89 are considered pre-hypertensive, and readings of 140/90 and higher are considered hypertensive.

Detailed explanation-4: -We record this with the systolic pressure first (on the top) and the diastolic pressure second (below). For example, if the systolic pressure is 120 mmHg (millimetres of mercury) and the diastolic pressure is 80 mmHg, we would describe the blood pressure as ‘120 over 80’, written 120/80.

Detailed explanation-5: -Sit in a comfortable chair with your back supported for at least 5 minutes before your reading. Put both feet flat on the ground and keep your legs uncrossed. Rest your arm with the cuff on a table at chest height. Make sure the blood pressure cuff is snug but not too tight.