— Signed, Pumping

Dear Pumping,

Blood pressure is measured with a stethoscope and a sphygmomanometer. A stethoscope is a sensitive listening tool. A sphygmomanometer is comprised of an inflatable band and a mercury meter that measures in millimeters. The band is wrapped around the patient's upper arm and inflated, causing blood flow to halt. When the band is slowly loosened on the arm, blood flow resumes, allowing the examiner to hear the pumping sound on his/her stethoscope; as well as sending the mercury rising to express a measurement in millimeters. The first number of a blood pressure reading is the systolic pressure, when the ventricular heart contraction is occurring. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure, the pressure when the heart is relaxed.

Blood pressure readings can vary depending on factors such as stress, excitement, anxiety, and setting. Therefore, it is recommended that one calculates his/her blood pressure from an average of three readings on separate days. Young adults in good physical condition will have an average blood pressure reading of 110 to 120 mm Hg systolic (mm= millimeters; Hg= mercury) over 70 to 80 mm Hg diastolic. A higher blood pressure in adults is approximately 140 mm Hg or more systolic and/or a diastolic pressure of 90 mm Hg or more. As you only gave one example of blood pressure for a 26 year old man, it is impossible for Alice to make any judgment. Develop a relationship with your clinician, get a few more readings and discuss the results with him or her. If you are concerned, ask your provider if your results show the possibility of a problem with hypertension.

Approximately 95% of hypertension cases come from unknown causes, but most tend to involve many factors, including diet, obesity, alcohol abuse, physical and emotional stress, environment, and psychological and genetic factors. Most of the factors are alterable, which is how people are able to lower their blood pressure with a physician's advice and some lifestyle changes. For some more information on hypertension and blood pressure, check out past "Go Ask Alice" questions Hypertension and Normal blood pressure. For an appointment with a clinician in Primary Care at the Health Service to discuss your own blood pressure, call 4-2284. Off-campus, for more specific information, you can contact the High Blood Pressure Information Center at (301) 951-3260 or 4733 Bethesda Ave., Suite 530, Bethesda, Md. 20814.

Alice

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