The staff may let some time lapse before retaking a blood pressure reading, to make sure your child has rested and has become calm. Many emotions related to visiting the clinic can affect blood pressure and may give falsely high readings.īefore determining that your child has high blood pressure, a doctor or nurse will take several readings when your child is calm and you are present to comfort him or her, if needed. Infants, toddlers, and preschoolers may be fearful of being separated from their parent or caregiver. Other illnesses your child may have (such as kidney or heart disease) affects blood pressure.Ĭhildren (and adults) may be anxious in a doctor's office, not knowing what may happen and being afraid of a possibly painful experience ahead of them. Your child's age, height, weight, and gender. Physical or emotional stress can elevate blood pressure. Feelings (such as fear, anger, or happiness) can affect blood pressure. Blood pressure is usually higher during and immediately after exercise, and lower at rest.Įmotional moods. Blood pressures fluctuate during waking hours, and are lower as we sleep. Is a blood pressure reading always the same?īlood pressure can be affected by many factors, including the following: High blood pressure is also called hypertension. If the pressure is high during the relaxation phase (diastole), then the second number recorded (the diastolic pressure) will be high.
If the pressure is high during the pumping phase (systole), then the first number recorded with a blood pressure reading (the systolic pressure) will be high. High blood pressure means that there is higher than normal pressure inside the arteries either during systole (when the heart contracts and pumps blood through the body), or during diastole (when the heart relaxes and fills with blood). This recording represents how high the mercury column is raised by the pressure of the blood. It occurs when the heart relaxes and fills with blood.Įach time the heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries, resulting in the highest blood pressure, the systolic pressure, as the heart contracts, and the lowest blood pressure, the diastolic pressure, as the heart relaxes.īoth the systolic and diastolic pressures are recorded as "mm Hg" (millimeters of mercury). The lower number, or diastolic pressure, refers to the lowest pressure inside the artery. It occurs when the heart contracts and pumps blood into the body. The higher number, or systolic pressure, refers to the highest pressure inside the artery. Two numbers are recorded when measuring blood pressure:
#Pulse rate and blood pressure chart professional#
You can usually find out your result straight away, either from the healthcare professional carrying out the test or on the digital display.High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents What is blood pressure?īlood pressure, measured with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope by a nurse or other health care provider, is the force of the blood pushing against the artery walls. the pressure in the cuff is recorded at two points as the blood flow starts to return to your arm – these measurements are used to give your blood pressure reading (see below).the pressure in the cuff is slowly released while a stethoscope is used to listen to your pulse (digital devices use sensors to detect vibrations in your arteries).the cuff is pumped up to restrict the blood flow in your arm – this squeezing may feel a bit uncomfortable, but only lasts a few seconds.
you hold out one of your arms so it's at the same level as your heart, and the cuff is placed around it – your arm should be supported in this position, such as with a cushion or arm of a chair.Try to relax and avoid talking while the test is carried out. You'll usually need to roll up your sleeves or remove any long-sleeved clothing, so the cuff can be placed around your upper arm. It's best to sit down with your back supported and legs uncrossed for the test. This usually consists of a stethoscope, arm cuff, pump and dial, although automatic devices that use sensors and have a digital display are also commonly used nowadays. A device called a sphygmomanometer will be used to measure your blood pressure.