BLOOD PRESSURE PRACTICAL

What is blood pressure?

The force exerted by blood against artery walls.

What units are used to measure blood pressure?

mmHg (millimetres of mercury).

How is blood pressure written?

As systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.

Give an example of a blood pressure reading.

120/80 mmHg.

What is systolic blood pressure?

The pressure in arteries during ventricular contraction.

What happens during systole?

The ventricles contract and pump blood out of the heart.

What is diastolic blood pressure?

The pressure in arteries during ventricular relaxation.

What happens during diastole?

The ventricles relax and refill with blood.

Which blood pressure value is the top number?

Systolic pressure.

Which blood pressure value is the bottom number?

Diastolic pressure.

What is considered optimal blood pressure?

Less than 120/80 mmHg.

What is considered normal blood pressure?

120–129 systolic and/or 80–84 diastolic.

What is considered high-normal blood pressure?

130–139 systolic and/or 85–89 diastolic.

What is Grade 1 hypertension?

140–159 systolic and/or 90–99 diastolic.

What is Grade 2 hypertension?

160–179 systolic and/or 100–109 diastolic.

What is Grade 3 hypertension?

At least 180 systolic and/or at least 110 diastolic.

What is isolated systolic hypertension?

Systolic pressure at least 140 with diastolic pressure less than 90.

In which population is isolated systolic hypertension especially common?

Older adults.

What is hypotension?

Abnormally low blood pressure.

What blood pressure is often considered hypotension?

Less than 90/60 mmHg.

What symptoms can hypotension cause?

Dizziness, fainting, weakness, and poor organ perfusion.

What does BP stand for?

Blood pressure.

What determines mean arterial blood pressure?

Blood volume, cardiac output, resistance to blood flow, and venous distribution.

What is cardiac output?

The amount of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

What two factors determine cardiac output?

Heart rate and stroke volume.

What is the formula for cardiac output?

Cardiac output = heart rate × stroke volume.

What does heart rate mean?

The number of heartbeats per minute.

What is stroke volume?

The amount of blood pumped by one ventricle in one beat.

What happens to blood pressure if cardiac output increases?

Blood pressure increases.

What is peripheral resistance?

The resistance to blood flow within blood vessels.

Which blood vessels mainly determine peripheral resistance?

Arterioles.

What happens to blood pressure when arterioles constrict?

Blood pressure increases.

What happens to blood pressure when arterioles dilate?

Blood pressure decreases.

How does blood volume affect blood pressure?

Increased blood volume increases blood pressure.

What regulates blood volume?

Fluid intake, fluid loss, and kidney regulation.

Which organs are especially important in blood pressure regulation?

The kidneys.

What is venous distribution?

The relative distribution of blood between arteries and veins.

How can vein diameter influence blood pressure?

It affects venous return to the heart.

What are some external risk factors for hypertension?

Smoking, obesity, diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, age, family history, and stress.

How does smoking affect cardiovascular risk?

It increases cardiovascular risk.

How does obesity affect blood pressure?

It increases the risk of hypertension.

How does diabetes affect cardiovascular risk?

It increases cardiovascular disease risk.

How does a sedentary lifestyle affect blood pressure?

It increases hypertension risk.

What is hypertension?

Persistently elevated blood pressure.

What is another term for high blood pressure?

Hypertension.

Why is hypertension dangerous?

It damages blood vessels and organs over time.

What does HMOD stand for?

Hypertension-mediated organ damage.

What is hypertension-mediated organ damage?

Structural or functional damage to organs caused by elevated blood pressure.

Which organs are commonly damaged by hypertension?

Heart, blood vessels, brain, kidneys, and eyes.

How can hypertension damage the heart?

It can cause left ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, and heart attack.

How can hypertension damage the brain?

It can cause stroke or transient ischemic attack.

How can hypertension damage the kidneys?

It can cause chronic kidney disease.

How can hypertension damage the eyes?

It can cause retinopathy.

What is left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH)?

Thickening of the left ventricular wall caused by increased workload.

What is a stroke?

Brain damage caused by interrupted blood supply.

What is a transient ischemic attack (TIA)?

A temporary reduction in blood supply to the brain.

Can hypertension-mediated organ damage be reversed?

Sometimes, especially if treated early.

Why is blood pressure treatment still important in long-standing hypertension?

It slows further damage and reduces cardiovascular risk.

What is white-coat hypertension?

High blood pressure in a medical setting but normal blood pressure outside the clinic.

What usually causes white-coat hypertension?

Anxiety during medical visits.

What is masked hypertension?

Normal blood pressure in clinic but elevated blood pressure outside the clinic.

Why is masked hypertension dangerous?

It may go unnoticed and untreated.

What does ABPM stand for?

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

What does HBPM stand for?

Home blood pressure monitoring.

What are Korotkoff sounds?

Sounds heard during blood pressure measurement using a stethoscope.

What causes Korotkoff sounds?

Turbulent blood flow in a partially compressed artery.

What does the first Korotkoff sound indicate?

Systolic blood pressure.

What does disappearance of Korotkoff sounds indicate?

Diastolic blood pressure.

Who first described the auscultatory method?

Korotkoff in 1905.

What is the auscultatory method?

Blood pressure measurement using a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer.

What is the palpatory method?

Blood pressure measurement using palpation of the pulse.

What can the traditional palpatory method usually measure?

Systolic pressure only.

What is the oscillometric method?

An automated blood pressure measurement method using oscillations.

What type of devices use the oscillometric method?

Automatic electronic blood pressure monitors.

What is invasive blood pressure measurement?

Direct arterial pressure measurement using an arterial catheter.

What is the gold standard for blood pressure measurement?

Invasive intra-arterial measurement.

Why is invasive blood pressure monitoring more accurate?

It directly measures arterial pressure beat-by-beat.

Which artery is commonly used for invasive blood pressure monitoring?

The radial artery.

What is a sphygmomanometer?

A device used to measure blood pressure.

What happens when the blood pressure cuff is inflated above systolic pressure?

Blood flow through the artery stops.

What happens as cuff pressure falls below systolic pressure?

Blood begins flowing turbulently through the artery.

What type of blood flow produces Korotkoff sounds?

Turbulent flow.

What type of blood flow occurs when cuff pressure falls below diastolic pressure?

Laminar flow.

What are the five phases of Korotkoff sounds?

Appearance, softer murmurs, louder sounds, muffled sounds, disappearance.

Which Korotkoff phase corresponds to systolic pressure?

Phase 1.

Which Korotkoff phase corresponds best to diastolic pressure?

Phase 5.

What is an auscultatory gap?

A temporary disappearance of Korotkoff sounds during blood pressure measurement.

Why can an auscultatory gap cause problems?

It can lead to underestimation of systolic pressure.

What is the main advantage of the palpatory method?

It is simple and does not require a stethoscope.

In what situations is the palpatory method especially useful?

Noisy environments, treadmill exercise, wards, and when no stethoscope is available.

What are limitations of the palpatory method?

Shivering, tremor, obesity, severe hypotension, and difficulty in elderly patients.

What does cardiovascular risk mean?

The likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease.

How does severe hypertension affect cardiovascular risk?

It greatly increases risk.

What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Long-term loss of kidney function.

What does ECG stand for?

Electrocardiogram.

What is retinopathy?

Damage to blood vessels in the retina.

What is coronary artery disease (CAD)?

Narrowing of coronary arteries supplying the heart.

What is heart failure?

Inability of the heart to pump blood effectively.

What is peripheral artery disease (PAD)?

Reduced blood flow to limbs due to narrowed arteries.

What is atrial fibrillation?

An irregular heart rhythm.