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submitted: Aug 17th 2008 | by: ArthurSchoenstadt | Total views: 1 | Word Count: 402 | |

Blood is carried from the heart to all the body's tissues and organs in vessels, called arteries. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of those arteries.

Blood pressure measurement is a painless and simple test. Blood pressure is one of the key identifiers of general health that will almost always be measured at the doctor's office. Reliable machines are available for you to measure your own blood pressure at home.

The healthcare provider reads the numbers from the gauge as air is released from the cuff. This device that reads blood pressure is called a sphygmomanometer. Blood pressure can also be measured with a blood pressure machine. The two numbers that measure your blood pressure are written like a fraction: one number on top and one on the bottom. For example, what many people consider "normal" blood pressure is read as 120/80. The number on top is called the systolic pressure. It measures the pressure inside your blood vessels at the moment your heart beats. The number on the bottom is your diastolic pressure. It measures the pressure in your blood vessels between heartbeats, when your heart is resting.

Blood pressure readings are expressed as two numbers, such as 140/90 mm Hg. The top number, 140, refers to systolic blood pressure and 90 refers to diastolic blood pressure. Both of these numbers are important. More than half of all persons age 65 have hypertension. In many, only the systolic blood pressure will be elevated. This is often refered to as isolated systolic hypertension. Treating high systolic blood pressure in older patients significantly decreases the risks for stroke, heart attack, and cardiovascular death.

Hypertension does not cause problems over days, weeks, or even months; rather, it causes problems over many years, and it can affect your entire body. By adding strain to the blood vessel walls, hypertension makes them more likely to develop a buildup of fat and cholesterol -- also known as "hardening" of the arteries. This, in turn, puts extra strain on your heart as it pumps blood through the narrowed arteries. Many people do not experience any symptoms of hypertension or related discomfort, so they find it easy to ignore their condition. However, this significantly increases the chances of having kidney disease, a heart attack, a stroke, or other heart and blood vessel problems. Getting this condition under control may add years to a person's life.

About the Author

Controlling of Blood Pressure. One of his latest step forward is Hypertension Healing . You can learn more about Christian on his Hypertension-Healing-Treatments.

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