I. Historical Review
II. Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure
III. Classification
IV. Normal Fluctuations in Blood Pressure
V. Finger Cuff Method of Penaz
VI. Technique and Pitfalls of Measurement
VII. Effects of High Blood Pressure
GLOSSARY
aneurysm a severe weakening of the wall of an artery or heart
muscle leading to ballooning of the wall of the vessel or heart
chamber. arrhythmia general term for irregularity or rapidity of the
heartbeat, an abnormal heart rhythm. arteriosclerosis loss of elasticity and hardening of the artery due
to several causes, particularly age change and deposits of
calcium; an artery with pipe-like rigidity. heart failure failure of the heart to pump sufficient blood from
the chambers into the aorta; inadequate supply of blood
reaches organs and tissues. myocardial infarction death of an area of heart muscle due to
blockage of a coronary artery by blood clot and atheroma;
medical term for a heart attack.
THE HEART PUMPS BLOOD DIRECTLY INTO blood vessels called arteries, which are like a series of pipes. The narrower the artery, the greater the resistance or impedance to the flow of blood; therefore, the heart must pump with greater force. The amount of force the blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries is the blood pressure.

• I. HISTORICAL REVIEW A. The Beginning of Sphygmomanometry
  Reverend Stephen Hales is the father of sphygmomano-metry. During his seven-year course in theology at Corpus
• II. SYSTOLIC AND DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE
  Everyone has a blood pressure, but what does that mean? The pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts (systole) is called systolic blood pressure. This is usually less than 140 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). The pressure in the arteries when the heart is relaxed (diastole) is called diastolic pressure, and this is usually less than 90 mmHg in adults.
• III. CLASSIFICATION
  The classification of blood pressure (BP) for adults age 18 years and older as given in the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC 7) is as follows:
• IV. NORMAL FLUCTUATIONS IN BLOOD PRESSURE
  A. Marked Variability
• V. FINGER CUFF METHOD OF PENAZ
  This method works on the principle of the unloaded arterial wall. Arterial pulsation in a finger is detected by a photoplethysmograph under a pressure cuff. The plethysmograph’s output drives a servoloop which changes the cuff pressure to maintain constant output so that the artery is held in the partially opened state. The pressure oscillations in the cuff are measured and resemble the intra-arterial pressure wave in most individuals tested. Finometer and Portapres recorders are available and are useful for the diagnosis of pseudohypertension that may occur in the elderly who may be overmedicated because of the finding of high blood pressure readings obtained with the usual cuff method.
• VI. TECHNIQUE AND PITFALLS OF MEASUREMENT
  The cuff size must the appropriate for the blood pressure measurement to be accurate. The arm and the mercury or aneroid manometer must be at the same level as the heart. The patient should be seated for about 5 minutes with the back supported and with the arm supported at heart level. If the arm is not supported than readings are approximately 8 mmHg higher than those taken with arm supported. If the back is not supported, readings may be as much as 10 mmHg higher because of the isometric exertion needed to support the body and arm.
• VII. EFFECTS OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
  A moderate degree of hypertension for more than five years causes severe damage to vital organs. Complications include:
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
  Aram, V., Chobanian, M. D., Bakris, G. L., and the National High