2. A blood pressure reading appears as two
numbers. The first and higher of the two is a
measure of systolic pressure, or the pressure in
the arteries when the heart beats and fills them
with blood. The second number measures
diastolic pressure, or the pressure in the arteries
when the heart rests between beats.
Optimal blood pressure is less than 120/80
(systolic/diastolic)
Hypotension is the medical term for low blood
pressure (less than 90/60).
3. A normal systolic blood pressure is below 120.
A systolic blood pressure of 120 to 139 means you have
pre-hypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. Even
people with pre-hypertension are at a higher risk of
developing heart disease.
A systolic blood pressure number of 140 or higher is
considered to be hypertension, or high blood pressure.
A normal diastolic blood pressure number is less than 80.
A diastolic blood pressure between 80 and 89 indicates
pre-hypertension.
A diastolic blood pressure number of 90 or higher is
considered to be hypertension or high blood pressure.
4. Blood pressure is measured with a simple,
painless test using a blood pressure cuff -
doctors call it a sphygmomanometer. It consists
of a small pressure gauge that is attached to a
cuff.
The inflatable cuff is wrapped around your upper
arm. Some blood pressure cuffs wrap around the
forearm or wrist.
When measuring blood pressure, your doctor or
nurse will use a stethoscope to listen to the
blood moving through an artery.
5. The cuff is inflated to a pressure that’s known to be
higher than your systolic blood pressure. As the cuff
deflates, the first sound heard through the
stethoscope is the systolic blood pressure. It sounds
like a whooshing noise. When this noise goes away,
that indicates the diastolic blood pressure.
The systolic blood pressure number is always said
first, and then the diastolic blood pressure number is
given. For example, your blood pressure may be read
as "120 over 80" or written as 120/80.
Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury
(mm Hg).
6. Pregnancy-induced hypertension( PIH) includes
gestational hypertension and
preeclampsia/eclampsia
Gestational hypertension a maternal blood
pressure equal to or greater than 140/90 with no
proteinuria that develops after mid pregnancy.
These women may develop preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia which is defined by a systolic blood
pressure of 140 or more or a diastolic blood
pressure of 90mm Hg or more and urinary
protein of 300mg or more in a 24-hr urine
sample.
7. Severe preeclampsia is defined as a systolic blood
pressure 160 or more or a diastolic blood pressure of
110mm Hg or more and 5g of protein in a 24-hr
urine sample.
Preeclampsia is associated with decreased uterine
blood flow, owing to vasospasm leading to reduced
placental size, compromised fetal nourishment, and
IUGR fetus
In addition, preeclampsia may result in maternal end-
organ damage such as liver impairment, renal
impairment, cerebrovascular events, and retinal
damage.
8. The etiology of preeclampsia is unknown.
Very young women with first pregnancy and
older pregnant women are more likely to
encounter the problem.
9. Eclampsia is PIH resulting in grand mal
seizures. Symptoms of PIH that increase the
concern for seizure are dizziness, headache,
visual disturbances, facial edema, anorexia,
nausea, and vomiting. Fetal death often
results in women who develop eclampsia.
Eclampsia can be fatal to the mother if not
treated promptly.
