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Blood pressure measures the pressure (force per area) on the arterial walls during the contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Systolic blood pressure, the top reading of the reading, measures the pressure on the arterial walls while the heart undergoes systole. Systole refers to the heart contracting. The diastolic blood pressure - bottom reading - gives us the pressure on the arterial walls during diastole. Diastole is the opposite of systole - the heart relaxes and fills with blood for the next contraction.

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Blood pressure is is sometimes called arterial blood pressure. It is caused by circulating blood on the walls of arteries. When the heart beats, it does not have a constant pressure. It rests slightly in between beats. There is a maximum called systolic and a minimum called diastolic. The pressure is measured in the upper arm at the brachial artery. The BP is expressed in systolic pressure over diastolic pressure in millimeters of Mercury (mmHg) and normal blood pressure for an adult is 120/80.

The instrument used to obtain blood pressure is a sphygmomanometer.

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Blood pressure is is sometimes called arterial blood pressure. It is caused by circulating blood on the walls of arteries. When the heart beats, it does not have a constant pressure. It rests slightly in between beats. There is a maximum called systolic and a minimum called diastolic. The pressure is measured in the upper arm at the brachial artery. The BP is expressed in systolic pressure over diastolic pressure in millimeters of mercury (mmHg) and normal blood pressure for an adult is 120/80.

BP varies according to age, stress, drugs, disease. BP can be measured using palpitation in emergency situations. This only gives a rough estimate of systolic pressure. It can be used with the carotid, the femoral, or radial pulse.

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Q: When a doctor takes your blood pressure what is he or she measuring?
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What takes your blood pressure?

Your blood pressure can be taken with a mercury blood pressure gauge, an aneroid manometer, or an electronic device for measuring the blood pressure, as long as the device has been recently calibrated and validated. With rare exceptions, blood pressure gauges found in supermarkets or pharmacies aren't properly maintained and shouldn't be used.


What exactly is a blood pressure and how does it work?

At an exam with your doctor, they will put a cuff on your arm and inflate it just enough to feel the pressure, then the cuff is let go to deflate. The time it takes for your body to deflate that cuff counts as your blood pressure, counted by the doctor or nurse you will see.


What do you call a person who takes your blood pressure?

Usually, a nurse does that. Medical receptionists can also do that though.


Bob is sitting outside on a warm day Mary takes his blood pressure and finds Bobs pressure is elevated even though he is resting and has lost fluid from sweating Why is his blood pressure high?

Generally speaking, when a female takes the blood pressure of a male, the reading is elevated.


What equipment takes a person's blood pressure?

It is called a Sphygmomanometer.


What does increased blood viscosity mean?

Yes. As the blood increases in viscosity, the heart is required to increase the amount of pressure it takes to push the blood through the vasculature; thus the blood pressure increases


What does a cardiac measure?

It measure pressure, oxygen and blood gases. It takes blood samples and measures the output of the heart.


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Right when you smoke blood pressure goes up so how long does it take to get back to normal?

It takes about 20 minutes for pulse and blood pressure to resume to their prior baseline.


How long does it take for blood pressure medication to take effect?

Type of medication used is a important factor... but in general, it takes from 7 to 15 days for an effect on blood pressure.


What is ob gynning?

This sounds like an abbreviation for Obstetrics and Gynecology. If you are going to a doctor during pregnancy he/she is your Obstetrician and takes care of your health by running blood tests, blood pressure checks and more. Gynecology is linked to obstetrics because Gynecology is the study of the reproductive system.