When measuring a patient’s blood pressure, a small and usually portable device is used. This device is called a sphygmomanometer or blood pressure cuff. The term sphygmomanometer was derived from the Greek term sphygmo which means pulse and the word manometer which is a device that measures pressure. The sphygmomanometer is made up of a pressure gauge, an air pump (to pump air into the cuff), and a rubber cuff that goes around the arm of the patient. The device uses units called millimeters of mercury or mmHg to measure the pressure of the blood. To measure the blood pressure, the rubber cuff is first placed around the upper arm. Then it is inflated with air using the air pump. This will cause the rubber cuff to inflate, effectively blocking the blood flow in the brachial artery of the arm. This arm should be extended to the side and level with the heart. More air is pumped into the cuff and the pressure on the artery gradually increases. The doctor or nurse will place a stethoscope over the brachial artery, and while gradually decreasing the pressure in the cuff, will listen to the pulsations using the stethoscope. The very first pulsation that is heard through the stethoscope is called the systolic pressure. The cuff will further deflate, and the very last pulsation that is heard is called the diastolic pressure. When written on paper, the systolic pressure is written on top with the diastolic pressure below it.

It is important to remember that a person’s blood pressure can increase if affected by various factors. To avoid erroneous blood pressure readings, avoid eating, excessive exertion, smoking or drinking anything that contains caffeine an hour before your blood pressure is to be taken. For most, having a blood pressure of 140/90 is considered high. But for some people, this cut-off level still needs to be considered. So it can be fair to say that there is no exact cut-off value to determine high blood pressure. For patients with chronic kidney diseases or diabetes, the ideal blood pressure should be kept below 130/80, sometimes even lower. It should be known that people with a blood pressure reaching 115/75 are at a greater risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.

People at risk for high blood pressure should watch their salt intake during meals. It is advised to exercise regularly to help the heart get used to pumping blood through your body. There should also be a decrease in the intake of coffee and alcohol. If possible, it is best to stop smoking. If hypertension is not controlled properly, then the risk of damages to the blood vessels in the eyes, arteriosclerosis, strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure increases. If you have just developed hypertension, ask your doctor for more information about the disease and if there should be any changes in your lifestyle and diet. It is best to go in for regular check-ups to make sure that you have your high blood pressure under control.