Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on artery walls by blood moving away from the heart. Doctors commonly measure blood pressure in the brachial artery in the arm. Measuring the pressure in a single artery provides information about the blood pressure in that artery. High or low blood pressure may be a sign of illness in a patient. Invasive techniques such as monitors placed in the arteries are used in hospital settings.
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted on artery walls by blood moving away from the heart. When doctors measure blood pressure in patients, they commonly measure the brachial artery in the arm, using the blood pressure in this artery as a reference. There are many other ways to measure blood pressure, including using invasive techniques such as monitors placed in the arteries, an option sometimes used in hospital settings.
Every time the heart beats, it creates arterial tension as blood is pushed out into the arteries. The circulatory system is a vast pump that works under pressure to move blood throughout the body. As blood moves away from the heart, arterial tension decreases, rapidly descending into smaller arteries as it makes its way to the corners of the body before returning along the patient’s venous network.
Measuring the pressure in a single artery provides information about the blood pressure in that artery. This information can be used to extrapolate a mean arterial pressure and to gather other information about the patient’s circulatory system and heart health. Pressure measurements are taken during systole and diastole, the high and low pressure points. Normal ranges for blood pressure vary according to age and fitness level.
Patients with unusually high or low blood pressure may be at risk for medical complications. Changes in blood pressure levels can also be a sign of illness in a patient, indicative of a problem in the cardiovascular system. Chronic high blood pressure can strain the arteries and may be associated with an increased risk of conditions such as stroke. When high blood pressure is identified, a doctor may recommend diagnostic tests to determine the reason, and ways to control or reduce it can be explored.
Many patients are familiar with the process of measuring blood pressure in the brachial artery in the arm, where a cuff is applied and a doctor listens for blood flow through the artery or uses an automated device to take a blood pressure measurement. If an invasive measurement is needed, the doctor may choose between different arteries for the placement of a cannula used to monitor blood pressure. Since this method has risks for the patient, it is used only when a doctor deems it necessary and is mainly applied in hospital settings, where patients can be monitored closely.
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