Posted: July 7th, 2024

Blood Pressure Essay

Blood Pressure
Blood pressure is a vital sign that provides crucial information about cardiovascular health. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). One of the reasons mercury is used is because mercury is denser than water and blood. The mercury is used to measure blood pressure since even elevated blood pressure levels cannot rise above one foot (Flack & Adekola, 2020). The medical history gives the standard measurement of blood pressure in mmHg. Using mercury means that 140mmHg pressure will push up a column of liquid mercury centimeters. Blood pressure is measured in two numbers: systolic and diastolic blood pressure (Omidvar & Kim, 2020). Systolic blood pressure indicates when the heart is contracting to pump the blood into circulation. Diastolic blood pressure is when the heart relaxes to refill more blood for pumping. The average systolic blood pressure is 100 to 139mmHg, while the diastolic pressure is 69 to 89mmHg. Recent research has shown that blood pressure variability, both short-term and long-term, can provide additional insights into cardiovascular risk beyond traditional blood pressure measurements (Sheikh et al., 2023). This variability may reflect underlying physiological processes and can be influenced by factors such as medication timing, stress, and autonomic nervous system function.
Changes in the blood pressure should coordinate with the function of opening and closing valves. High or low blood pressure can affect the function of the valves (Omidvar & Kim, 2020). For instance, high blood pressure increases the risk of aortic valve disease. People who experience changes in blood pressure resulting in valve damage result in dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and shortness of breath. High blood pressure causes the valves to leak. The complications can present diverse effects on the body to trigger death (Flack & Adekola, 2020). The valve opens and closes to regulate the blood flow. Low blood pressure can affect the closing and opening of the valves. It’s important to note that blood pressure regulation differs between sexes. Women generally have lower blood pressure than men until menopause, after which the trend reverses. This difference is attributed to various factors, including hormonal influences, renal sodium handling, and vascular reactivity (Drury et al., 2024). Understanding these sex-specific mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted therapies and prevention strategies.
High blood pressure and malfunctioning valves cause complications that severely affect the health of individuals. Appropriate interventions are needed to regulate the blood pressure and function of the valves. Patients with diverse symptoms such as dizziness, fainting, fatigue, and shortness of breath should get immediate medical attention (Flack & Adekola, 2020). Early treatment effectively reduces the risk of health effects that can undermine the daily activities of individuals. Regular assessment reduces the risk of malfunctioning valves and abnormal blood pressure levels. Lifestyle modifications play a significant role in blood pressure management. These include maintaining a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, limiting sodium intake, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. Additionally, emerging technologies such as wearable devices and home blood pressure monitors are empowering patients to take a more active role in monitoring and managing their blood pressure.
References
Drury, E.R., Wu, J., Gigliotti, J.C. and Le, T.H., 2024. Sex differences in blood pressure regulation and hypertension: renal, hemodynamic, and hormonal mechanisms. Physiological Reviews, 104(1), pp.199-251.
Flack, J. M., & Adekola, B. (2020). Blood pressure and the new ACC/AHA hypertension guidelines. Trends in cardiovascular medicine, 30(3), 160-164.
Omidvar, A., & Kim, J. (2022). Thermoregulatory and cardiovascular responses to up-step change transient thermal environments: A risk factor in individuals with prosthetic heart valves. Building and Environment, 212, 108852.
Sheikh, A.B., Sobotka, P.A., Garg, I., Dunn, J.P., Minhas, A.M.K., Shandhi, M.M.H., Molinger, J., McDonnell, B.J. and Fudim, M., 2023. Blood pressure variability in clinical practice: past, present and the future. Journal of the American Heart Association, 12(9), p.e029297.

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Tags: Blood pressure monitoring, Cardiovascular health, Hypertension management