What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force that allows blood flow to the heart throughout the body.
When the heart contracts, blood pressure is maximum. This value is called systolic pressure, it is the figure measurably higher.
When the heart relaxes between beats, blood pressure is minimal. This value is called diastolic pressure, it is the figure measurably lower.
How blood pressure is measured?
Blood pressure is measured by placing an inflatable cuff around the arm and detecting the systolic and diastolic pressure, or by detection of arterial sounds (auscultatory method) or by detection of arterial oscillations (oscillometric method).
Measuring blood pressure can be done manually, using a stethoscope (which can hear the sounds arterial), or using an electronic device (which can detect oscillations of arterial ). The development of devices that detect the oscillations of the arterial artery of the wrist is a newer technique.
Electronic devices measure blood pressure (arm or wrist) are not all absolute reliability. Their use should therefore be done by following the advice of a health professional (doctor, nurse, pharmacist). It is recommended to measure blood pressure in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). But we can also express the result in cm of mercury. A blood pressure of 120 mmHg corresponds to 12 cm of mercury.
Thus, a blood pressure of 120 mmHg and 90 corresponds exactly to a blood pressure at 12 and 9.
