Blood pressure is needed so that the blood can travel from heart to other organs and muscles.
An adult has around five liters of blood that circulates around the body approximately once every minute. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of those arteries.
Each times the heart beats (about 60-70 times a minute at rest), it pumps out blood into the arteries. Blood pressure monitoring is an important indicator of a wearer’s cardiovascular status.
Many devices allow blood pressure to be measured by manual or digital sphygmomanometer systems that utilize an inflatable cuff applied to a person’s arm.
The blood pressure is at its greatest when the heart contracts and is pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure.
When the heart is at rest, in between beats, the blood pressure falls. This is the diastolic pressure.
When blood pressure stays too high for too long, it can damage the blood vessels. Organs such as kidneys, heart, brain and eyes can be affected.
High blood pressure is the leading risk factor for heart failure. It also increases the risk later for atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.
What is meant by blood pressure?
