Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and the amount of blood pumped and the size and flexibility of the arteries.

Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use.

Blood pressure is usually measured while you are seated with your arm resting on a table. Your arm should be slightly bent so that it is at the same level as your heart. The upper arm should be bare, such as with your sleeve rolled up, but not tight or uncomfortable.

Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers: for example, 110 over 70 (written as 110/70). The first number is the systolic blood pressure reading, and it represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The second number is the diastolic blood pressure reading, and it represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest.

To obtain your blood pressure measurement, your health care provider will wrap the blood pressure cuff snugly around your upper arm, positioning it so that the lower edge of the cuff is 1 inch above the bend of the elbow.

He or she will locate the large artery on the inside of the elbow by feeling for the pulse and will place the head of the stethoscope over this artery, below the cuff. It should not rub the cuff or any clothing because these noises may block out the pulse sounds. Correct positioning of the stethoscope is important to get an accurate recording.

Your health care provider will close the valve on the rubber inflating bulb and then will squeeze it rapidly to inflate the cuff until the dial or column of mercury reads 30 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) higher than the usual systolic pressure. If the usual systolic pressure is unknown, the cuff is inflated to 210 mmHg.

Now the valve is opened slightly, allowing the pressure to fall gradually (2 to 3 mmHg per second). As the pressure falls, the level on the dial or mercury tube at which the pulsing is first heard is recorded. This is the systolic pressure.

As the air continues to be let out, the sounds will disappear. The point at which the sound disappears is recorded. This is the diastolic pressure (the lowest amount of pressure in the arteries as the heart rests).

The procedure may be performed 2 or more times.

The test can be done at any time. When it is performed for comparison purposes, it is usually done after resting for at least 5 minutes. All you need to perform a blood pressure measurement is a cuff and a device for detecting the pulse in the artery (stethoscope or microphone).

Infants and children:

The physical and psychological preparation you can provide for this or any test or procedure depends on your child's age, interests, previous experiences, and level of trust. For specific information regarding how you can prepare your child, see the following topics as they correspond to your child's age:

• Infant test/procedure preparation (birth to 1 year)
• Toddler test/procedure preparation (1 to 3 years)
• Preschooler test/procedure preparation (3 to 6 years)
• Schoolage test/procedure preparation (6 to 12 years)
• Adolescent test/procedure preparation (12 to 18 years)

• Mild hypertension: diastolic pressure consistently 90 to 104 mmHg, or systolic pressure from 145 to 159 mmHg
• Significant hypertension: systolic pressure above 160 mmHg or diastolic pressure above 100 mmHg
• Hypotension: blood pressure below normal

• Cardiovascular disorders
• Neurological conditions
• Kidney and urological disorders
• Pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
• Psychological factors such as stress, anger, or fear
• Various medications
• "White coat hypertension" can occur if the medical visit itself produces extreme anxiety

Consult your health care provider if your blood pressure measurements are consistently high or low or if you have symptoms at the same time as the high or low reading.

Repeated measurements are important for screening or monitoring. A single high measurement does not necessarily mean hypertension. A single normal measurement does not necessarily mean that high blood pressure is not present.