Essay On Blood Pressure

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Blood Pressure By: Lauren Faircloth Patient: Shana Richardson February 16, 2014 BIO 211 CJ1 February 19, 2014 Introduction Blood pressure is pressure excreted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels. Arteries are usually measured on the radial artery by means of a sphygmomanometer and expressed in milliliters of mercury as a fraction having a numerator as the maximum pressure that follows the systole of the heart and a denominator as the minimum pressure that accompanies cardiac diastole (Definition â Systemic Blood Pressure by Human Physiology. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://news.rapgenius.com/1653425/Human-physiology-systemic-blood-pressure/1-definition). A normal blood pressure reading for an adult is one hundred and twenty over eighty. To take a blood pressure, a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope, or an automatic device is needed. The instruments measure blood pressure by auscultation of korotoff’s sound, or either record korotkoff sound by microphone to take the measurements using oscillometric principle of analyzing pressure pulses in the cuff. Systolic pressure is the numerator, which is also the higher of the two numbers, measures the pressure within the arteries when the heart beats. The diastolic pressure is the denominator of the fraction, which is the lower number of the two; it measures the pressure within the arteries between heartbeats. In 1773 Hales first measured blood pressure by sticking tubes in the arteries of animals. Blood pressure measurement was first used in 1901 under anesthesia by Cushing, now it is a standard of patient monitoring. Taking blood pressure is important because the higher t... ... middle of paper ... ...ity. High blood pressure is a major problem in America. Children in America are now more likely to be obese due to fast food, and high sodium content found in common household foods. An experiment should be done to show the effects high blood pressure has on children. Awareness of which foods cause high blood pressure and exercise will help promote a healthier lifestyle. High blood pressure is the silent killer. People often over look the severity of high blood pressures short term and long effects. Often many years pass without symptoms of high blood pressure which increases the chances for heart attack and stroke. Aristotle first noted the health benefits of daily exercise. A study provided evidence that burning 1,000 to 2,000 calories per week reduces risk of death. Exercise should be performed at least three to five times a week for an active prolonged life.

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