Federation of Allied Health and Sciences Students

is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure

The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart through veins.

The measurement blood pressure without further specification usually refers to the systemic arterial pressure measured at a person's upper arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which is the upper arm's major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. A person's BP is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (mmHg), for example 120/80.
Systolic pressure is when the heart`s ventricles contract and push the blood through the veins. It is called the systole, the pressure during heartbeat action. Diastolic pressure is the lower pressure that results when air is released out of the cuff and no more sound is heard. This is called the diastole; the artery resting pressure.

 Exercise Regular exercise, along with an active lifestyle, may decrease blood pressure. To significantly reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, it is recommended that adults participate in 150 minutes a week of cardiovascular exercise such as walking, cycling and swimming. Increasing daily activity by walking to and from class and work (rather than taking the bus) and walking up and down stairs (versus riding the elevator), will also contribute to an active, healthy lifestyle.

 Nutrition Research has shown that diet affects the development of high blood pressure (hypertension). The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan is recommended if your blood pressure is high or if you are at risk for high blood pressure. DASH is a combination diet that is low in fat and rich in fruits and vegetables. It is low in cholesterol and saturated fat, high in dietary fiber, potassium, calcium and magnesium and moderately high in protein.

Examples Bananas Broccoli green peas Pineapple Potatoes Prunes Strawberries sweet potatoes

carrots grapes mangoes raisins squash tomatoes orange

 Alcohol Alcohol is a drug, and regular over-consumption can raise blood pressure dramatically, as well as cause an elevation upon withdrawal. Try to limit alcohol to twice a week and drink only 1-2 servings (equivalent to two four-ounce glasses of wine, two eight-ounce glasses of beer or two shots of sprite). Also, remember that alcohol intake can be a factor in weight gain. The current recommendation is to limit alcohol intake to no more than two drinks per day for most men and no more than one drink per day for women and lighter-weight persons.

 Smoking Smoking is the third leading cause of death of other nations. Smoking causes peripheral vascular disease (narrowing of the vessels that carry blood to the legs and arms), as well as hardening of the arteries. These conditions clearly can lead to heart disease and stroke and are contributing factors in high blood pressure. Don't start smoking and if you do smoke, seek assistance with quitting.

 Stress The effects of stress can vary, but long-term, chronic stress appears to raise blood pressure. Various relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive relaxation, massage and psychological therapy can help to manage stress and help lower stress-induced blood pressure elevations.

 Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a very common and serious condition that can lead to and/or complicate many health problems. These include coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and heart failure.BP 140/90 mmHg Symptoms: o headaches o being tired all the time o blurred vision o nosebleeds o ringing in the ears o chest pain o irregular heartbeat o feeling of confusion off and on o heart failure

1.Start exercising - Exercise, other than just helping fight against excess fat, also helps reduce the resting heart rate, and as such will lower your blood pressure. It also causes the cells to release many chemicals that naturally reduce the blood pressure.
2. Lower your alcohol consumption - In large quantities, alcohol can reduce the flow of blood from heart to other parts of the body. This is a dangerous condition, and will also result in high blood pressure.

3. Quit Smoking - There is really no end to the list of problems that smoking causes. Other than just eating at your money, giving you bad breath, yellowing your teeth, and giving you cancer, smoking also raises your blood pressure by constricting the blood cells. 4. Cut out excess sodium - Salt results in change of osmotic balance which causes cells to retain more water. This can cause high blood pressure, but is more dangerous if you already have high blood pressure.

 Hypotension If the blood pressure is lower than normal then there will be poor blood circulation, so low or no supply of nutrients and oxygen rich blood to extreme parts of the body. With low or no energy to the body cells causes many annoying symptoms called as hypotension symptoms they are:

o Blurred vision, o Cold, clammy, pale skin, o Dizziness, o Fainting, o Fatigue, o Nausea, o Palpitations, o Rapid, shallow breathing and o Depression

1.Reduce low blood pressure symptoms. Having low blood pressure usually becomes a problem when there are symptoms such as, dizziness or fainting. Some pregnant women will suffer from low blood pressure. To prevent dizziness and fainting, when you are standing up, do so slowly. When you are getting out of bed, sit up and dangle your feet for a while, to promote blood circulation before standing
2.Take a little extra salt. To help elevate your blood pressure, you may increase your salt intake. When you are preparing meals increase the amount of salt that you would normally use.

3.Eat smaller portions. To prevent your blood pressure from dropping, eat small portions of meals, instead of eating one large one. Eat low-carb foods, to help elevate your blood pressure back to nor

4.Drink plenty of water each day, to keep you from becoming dehydrated. Dehydration is one of the causes of low blood pressure. You may have mild symptoms at first, but if left untreated it will eventually become worst. 5.Recognize the types of medication you are taking. Some medications can cause you to have low blood pressure. If you were prescribed medication by your doctor, consult with him to identify which one may be causing the low blood pressure

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