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About blood pressure, What is blood pressure, What affects blood pressure – A&D Dual Memory Wrist Blood Pressure Monitor UB-512 User Manual

Page 15: What causes variations in blood pressure

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What Is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries.

Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts; diastolic pressure occurs when

the heart expands. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

What Affects Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is affected by many factors: age, weight, time of day, activity level,

climate, altitude and season. Certain activities can significantly alter one’s blood

pressure. Walking can raise systolic pressure by 12 mmHg and diastolic pressure

by 5.5 mmHg. Sleeping can decrease systolic blood pressure by as much as 10

mmHg. Taking your blood pressure repeatedly without waiting an interval of 5

minutes between readings, or without raising your arm to allow blood to flow

back to the heart, can also affect it.
In addition to these factors, beverages containing caffeine or alcohol, certain

medications, emotional stress and even tight-fitting clothes can make a difference

in the readings.

What Causes Variations In Blood Pressure?

An individual’s blood pressure varies greatly from day to day and season to season.

For hypersensitive individuals, these variations are even more pronounced.

Normally, blood pressure rises during work or play and falls to its lowest levels

during sleep.

ABOUT BLOOD PRESSURE

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