Elta BM-101 Blood pressure classification of WHO, Variations in the blood pressure

BM101 10/16/06 12:15 PM Page 15

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WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MEASURING THE BLOOD PRESSURE AT HOME ?

Measuring the blood pressure as well examination by a doctor in the hospital or in a clinic tends to an increase in the nervousness in many patients, which causes higher blood pressure. The blood pressure can also vary under various circumstances and therefore an objective judgment on the basis of a single measurement is not possible.

The blood pressure measured in the morning or after getting up and before having breakfast of a patient sitting still is defined as the fundamental blood pressure. Therefore a blood pressure measurement at home is advisable, because the blood pressure in this state is the nearest to it.

A. Blood pressure classification of WHO
The standards for defining the high and low blood pressures,				Pressure
irrespective of the age have defined by the World Health					89		HYPERTENSION
				Blood	85		HIGH NORMAL
Organization (WHO) as shown in Fig.1						NORMAL
B. Variations in the blood pressure				Diastolic			180		189		mmHg
								Systolic Blood Pressure
The individual blood pressure is subject to variations on a daily
											Fig. 1
basis or according to the season. These variations are more
distinct in patients with high blood pressure. Normally, the blood
pressure rises during work while it is at its
lowest at night during sleep.
		160	A				B
The variations of the blood pressure during the
		140
day are shown in Fig. 2, the readings having	mmHg120
been taken every 5 minutes.	Pressure	100
The thick line shows the sleeping period. The		80
rise in the blood pressure at 4 o’clock in the	Blood	60
morning (shown as A in the figure) and at 12		40
o’clock noon (shown in the figure as B) shows		20
		12 13 14	15 16 17 18 19 20 21				22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5		6 7	8 9 10 11
an attack of pain.							Time
											Fig. 2

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