Blood Pressure Monitoring - Facts You Should Know

Recent scientific research findings have indicated that high blood pressure is a dangerous signal to the onset of other life-threatening diseased-conditions. For this singular and dreadful revelation from experts, it is imperative to provide adequate information on how blood pressure organs carry out their blood-pumping activities in the body so as to avert or at least, delay occurrence of

abnormal blood pressure otherwise called hypertension. Simply put, hypertension can be described as a condition whereby the blood pressure is higher than normal range value due to certain underlining factors.

Now, we shall tersely discuss the concept of blood pressure, BP. In the circulatory system, the heart pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body through arteries with force. The force used by the heart to pump blood into the arteries is called blood pressure. Pumping of blood is achieved through contraction of four chambers of the heart with force pushing the blood against the inside walls of the arteries. The greatest pressure is the time of high ventricles contraction called systolic while the diastolic pressure is the time of lowest pressure when the heart expands.

To determine blood pressure values, blood pressure monitoring kits are used. When blood pressure is measured the values are usually read in mmHg with two number values where high value is over the low value (systolic over diastolic). Expansions and contractions of muscles are controlled by the beat of the heart. Expansion of these muscles makes blood pressure drop while contraction of the muscles makes the blood pressure to rise.

The organs that work together to determine blood pressure values are the kidneys, arteries and heart, though heart is the most powerful and important among the three. The level of force the heart applies or uses to pump blood through arteries determines the value of blood pressure. Kidney is excretory organ which eliminates waste products from the body via urine. Arteries carry blood towards and away from the heart. If there are blockages or narrowing of the arteries, capillaries and veins, the heart will be forced to work harder which will in turn lead to a rise in the blood pressure.

Certain factors which usually influence the readings of blood pressure are time, emotional moods, height, physical activities etc. The standard normal blood pressure value for adults below 50 years of age is considered to be 120/80mmHg while any consistent value from 140/90mmHg is considered to be abnormal.

Below is the World Health Organization (W.H.O) adopted blood pressure classification.

Normal Range is 120-139 mmHg(Systolic) & 80-89mmHg(Diastolic),


Mild Hypertension is 140-159(Systolic) & 90-99mmHg(Diastolic),


Moderately serious is 160-179(Systolic)&100-109mmHg(Diastolic ),


Serious Hypertension is above 180 and (Systolic)above 110mmHg.

To know the value of your blood pressure, it is advisable that you should endeavour to routinely see your doctor/nurse or better still, learn how to use BP monitor kits. This will prevent you from being caught unaware by the hypertension.

Going by the causing factors, hypertension can be classified into primary and secondary. Primary or essential hypertension is the one whose causes could not be firmly established. Unfortunately, this class is responsible for over 95% of hypertension globally. Genetic and environmental factors are the predisposing factors. Causes of secondary hypertension can be further broken into two classes as non-modifiable and modifiable factors


1.Non-Modifiable Factors! Factors that cannot be influenced by human factors: Age! As one grows older, say about 50 years and above, systolic continues to rise to 140mmHg or above.


Gender! Male struggle to put things alright at home as husbands. As a result, they put themselves under pressure.


Race! Black people tend to be more susceptible to hypertension than white people. Similarly, hypertension is more pronounced in economically less developed regions.


Genetic factors! This is hereditary in nature. Hypertension is transferable from the parents to their offspring.


2.Modifiable Factors! Factors caused by human habits. Smoking and Alcohol! Heavy consumers of tobacco products and alcohol are prone to hypertension.


Diet! The type of food we eat is a factor e.g. salt, fatty meat.


Obesity! Overweight is a great source of hypertension.


Birth Control Pills! They may cause high blood pressure.


Lack of Exercise! If you decide not to involve in any energy sapping activity, it is a problem. Apart from the ones highlighted above, there are still more and more factors that can cause hypertension.