Blood pressure is the umbrella concept of the very popular high blood pressure and low blood pressure ailments. It is the pressure released by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Clinically called as the systemic arterial blood pressure, blood pressure is essentially the pressure in the large arteries. The large arteries are responsible for the delivery of blood to body parts aside from the lungs. Many are often confused on whether blood pressure is an issue of the blood or the heart, when it is actually both. Changes in blood pressure are influenced by both the heart and the blood itself, but mainly and largely of the heart.



Blood pressure and blood pressure measurement are both significant elements of a sound health and a healthy heart. Blood pressure is a vital sign of the heart's primary function. It signifies the heart's capability in delivering the blood to different body parts and is also indicative of the wellness of other parts of the circulatory system such as the veins and arteries. Therefore, measuring your blood's pressure is of great importance. Any abnormality in the measurement of blood pressure can affect the body's functioning and well being. A high or a low blood pressure has a big significance in keeping the entire body (not just the heart) healthy.

Sphygmomanometer is the instrument used to measure the blood pressure. The Czech-Austrian Jewish physician Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch invented the first version of spygmomanometer. But it was only in 1901 that the instrument became widely popular because of Pulitzer Prize winner Harvey Williams Cushing.

An inflatable cuff, a manometer, a tube connecting the two, and an inflation build are the parts of a sphygmomanometer. Using a sphygmomanometer can be confusing for first-timers. First, the cuff is usually wrapped around the upper left arm. It is then inflated until the artery is occluded. A stethoscope is placed at the brachial artery of the elbow. As the pressure in the cuff is slowly released, a ticking or pounding sound will be heard through *the stethoscope*. The pressure level at which the first sound is heard is noted as the systolic blood pressure and the second is the diastolic blood pressure. The systolic blood pressure is the blood's highest pressure measured when the heart is beating. The diastolic blood pressure on the other hand is the blood's lowest blood pressure level measured in between heart's beats. In reading the measurement, the systolic is read as over the diastolic (120/80 read as 120 over 80).

The blood pressure measurement indicates the normality or abnormality of a person's blood pressure. The normal blood pressure is at 120/80 reading. In general, a lower blood pressure is better than a high one. But an abnormally low blood pressure should be a cause for concern and a clinical assessment must be done. The acceptable normal blood pressure reading ends at a 139/89. Pressure levels higher than that is classified ad high blood pressure. Actually, any reading exceeding the 120/80 level are already considered pre-hypertension cases and must be carefully monitored to prevent full blown hypertension or high blood cases.

A low blood pressure is most manifested by incidents of frequent fainting, paling of the skin, and dizziness. A low blood pressure results to poor or even damaged functioning of the different organs of the body due to insufficient supply of oxygen, minerals, and nutrients carried by the blood. Dehydration, severe bleeding, and sever inflammation of an internal organ are the common causes of low blood pressure. An abnormally fast or slow heart rate, weak heart muscles, and pulmonary embolism are also known causes. Low blood pressure is treated depending on a particular case's relative cause. Seeking a doctor's assessment is the best way to deal with it.

On the other hand, common signs and symptoms of high blood pressure are persistent headaches, dizziness, nosebleeds, nape aches, palpitation, excessive sweating, muscle cramps, and frequent urination. However, it must be noted that these signs most occur only in the advance stages already. So measuring your blood pressure regularly is still the best way to prevent a high blood or a low blood pressure as well. Genetic factors play the biggest role in cases of hypertension, but the risk can be reduced if early signs are dealt with properly. A healthy lifestyle can do a lot in preventing a high blood pressure from occurring. Excessive smoking and alcohol intake, high salt content diet, and a sedentary lifestyle are the biggest culprits for hypertension cases. Appropriateness and effectiveness of available medical treatments like diuretics, beta-blockers, or clonodine are dependent on individual cases.

Known as the "silent killer", high blood pressure is the leading cause of heart attacks and heart failures. Avoiding high blood pressure can significantly reduce the possibility of tremendously damaging the heart. Most heart attacks or myocardial infarction cases are fatal and lead to irreversible physical, emotional, and psychological damages among others.