Blood Pressure Terminology

Question 1

Blood Pressure (BP)

Answer 1

A measure of how forcefully your blood goes through your arteries. Measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg).

Question 2

Normal Blood Pressure Range (Healthy Adult)

Answer 2

<120/<80 mmHg

Question 3

Systolic Pressure (SBP)

Answer 3

The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (systole) [1st number]

Question 4

Diastolic Pressure (DBP)

Answer 4

The pressure in the arteries when the heart relaxes (diastole) [2nd number]

Question 5

Hypotension

Answer 5

Low Blood Pressure: force of the blood pushing against the artery walls is too low

Can cause fainting or dizziness because the brain doesn’t receive enough blood.

Question 6

Hypertension

Answer 6

High Blood Pressure: force of blood pushing against your artery walls is too high.

People with hypertension may not feel symptoms.

Question 7

Normotensive

Answer 7

having normal blood pressure

Question 8

Auscultation

Answer 8

Diagnostic procedure involving listening to sounds from the heart, lungs, or other organs, typically with a stethoscope

Question 9

Korotkoff’s Sounds

Answer 9

pulsatile circulatory sounds heard through a stethoscope

Question 10

Palpatory Systolic Baseline

Answer 10

Estimation of SBP via palpation of the radial pulse

during auscultation, inflate cuff to 20-30mmHg above PSB