Chapter 5: Blood Pressure

Why is Blood Pressure Measured?

  • A person’s blood pressure provides insight into the functioning of the body
  • Healthy body functioning is influenced by healthy blood pressure
  • The findings can provide information about the integrity of arteries and heart functioning, which can lead the healthcare provider to conduct additional assessments
  • High blood pressure can cause the arteries to become weak and damaged and cause the heart to become weak and enlarged
  • Low blood pressure can decrease perfusion of nutrients and oxygen to the body’s cells, influencing ability to function and potentially to cellular death
  • Chronic high blood pressure can contribute to conditions such as vascular disease, myocardial infarction, cerebral stroke, kidney disease, and dementia

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Vital Sign Measurement Across the Lifespan - 1st Canadian edition Copyright © 2018 by Ryerson University is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.