Blood Pressure Measuring

Both too low and too high blood pressure often do not cause any symptoms or symptoms are very unspecific and similar to symptoms of numerous diseases. Thus values of one's blood pressure can be determined only with measurement. However, one measurement does not confirm or eliminate hypertension or hypotension. To diagnose both hypertension and hypotension are required several blood pressure measurements through a longer period.

The unit used for blood pressure measurement is millimeter of mercury (mmHg), while blood pressure can be measured invasively (penetrating the skin and measuring inside the arteries) and non-invasively using three different blood pressure devices :

• mercury manometer
• aneroid manometer
• electronic pressure sensor

All three blood pressure measuring devices had their advantages and disadvantages but the mercury manometer is still considered a gold standard because it is very accurate and for that reason it is widely used in clinical measurements. Both aneroid manometer and electronic pressure sensor are much more practical but they are generally less accurate. Either way, besides proper blood pressure measuring device is also very important to keep in mind that blood pressure greatly varies from heart contraction to heart contraction because each time the heart creates an optimal blood circulation at that moment. Thus a single blood pressure measurement does not say a lot. To determine one's actual blood pressure is necessary to do the blood pressure measuring several times for a certain period and to calculate the average values.

Before the blood pressure measurement is also important to follow several directions. Before starting the pressure measurement is necessary not to eat, to drink alcohol or coffee and to smoke for about half of an hour, and to relax for several minutes. While measuring you should not talk, listen to other people or radio, and not to watch television. It is also important to be relaxed as much as possible. To obtain accurate values blood pressure measurements much be done everyday about the same time, Results should be written down to be able to calculate average blood pressure values.