All About Blood Pressure FAQs

A lot of people with high blood pressure do not know they have it. It is because it usually doesn't have symptoms and you can have it even if you're feeling good. Especially if you are already getting older, you need to know the facts about high blood pressure as it is one of the most common disorders that increase risks of stroke and other heart ailments.

Below are some of the frequently asked questions about blood pressure:

What is blood pressure?

Blood pressure is the measurement of the force of the blood against the walls of the main arteries. As the heart responds to stress and physical activities such as exercising, blood pressure rises and falls.

How is blood pressure measured?

Blood pressure is measured through the use of an instrument called sphygmomanometer. It is recorded by giving the systolic and diastolic pressures expressed in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

The measurement is written with the systolic pressure above the diastolic pressure or with the systolic number before the diastolic number, such as 120/80 mm Hg.

What are systolic pressure and diastolic pressure?

The systolic pressure is the force of the blood exerted as the heart muscle contracts while the diastolic pressure is the measure of the force of the blood against the arteries during the relaxation of the ventricles between beats.

What is the normal blood pressure?

The normal blood pressure of a healthy young adult is about 110/75 (below 120 mm Hg systolic and 80 mm Hg diastolic). As one gets older, the normal blood pressure usually gets higher- a 60-year old usually has a blood pressure of 130/90.

What is high blood pressure?

Abnormally high blood pressure, medically known as hypertension, is a condition wherein the blood pressure measures above the normal blood pressure even when he is at rest.

What is low blood pressure?

Low blood pressure, medically known as hypotension, is a condition wherein a person of normal heart and blood vessels has blood pressure that is too low for his age. In effect, blood flow towards the brain is lessened, causing the person to get dizzy and faint.

Vital Signs Normal Values

New Born

TEMPERATURE: 37-37.6

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 100-190

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 30-50

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 50-52/25-30

3 years Old

TEMPERATURE: 36.9-37.5

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 80-125

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 20-30

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 78-114/46-78

10 years Old

TEMPERATURE: 36.4-37

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 70-110

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 16-22

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 90-120/56-84

16 YEARS Old/Teenager

TEMPARETURE: 36.4-37.1

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 55-100

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 15-20

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 104-120/60-84

Adult Stage

TEMPERATURE: 36-37.5

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 60-90

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 12-20

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 95/140/60-90

Older Adult/Elderly

TEMPERATURE: 35.9-36.3

PULSE RATE(bpm/bits per minutrer): 60-90

RESPIRATORY RATE(cpm/cyles per minute): 15-22

BLOOD PRESSURE(systolic pressure/diastolic pressure): 140-160/70-90